Centre for Biostatistics and the Royal Statistical Society Manchester Local Group seminar
| Dates: | 25 February 2015 |
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| Times: | 16:00 - 17:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Institute of Population Health |
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| Who is it for: | Adults, Alumni, Current University students, General public, University staff |
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| Speaker: | Stephen Burgess |
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Host: Centre for Biostatistics, Institute of Population Health
About the event:
Title:
"Instrumental variable analysis with no valid instruments"
Abstract:
Mendelian randomization is the use of genetic variants as instrumental variables to obtain causal inferences in observational data. The number of Mendelian randomisation analyses including large numbers of genetic variants is rapidly increasing. This is due to the proliferation of genome-wide association studies, and the desire to obtain more precise estimates of causal effects. However, some genetic variants may not be valid instrumental variables, in particular due to pleiotropy.
We view show that bias caused by pleiotropy can be viewed as analogous to publication bias. Causal estimates using each instrument individually can be displayed visually by a funnel plot to assess potential asymmetry. Egger's test, a tool to detect publication bias, can be used to test for bias from pleiotropy. Under the assumption that the association of each genetic variant with the exposure is independent of the direct effect of the variant on the outcome (not via the exposure), Egger's test gives a valid test of the null causal hypothesis and a consistent causal effect estimate even when all the genetic variants are invalid instrumental variables. This provides a sensitivity analysis for the robustness of the findings from a Mendelian randomization investigation.
Refreshments: Tea and coffee will be available from 15:30.
Speaker
Stephen Burgess
Role: Sir Henry Welcome Post Doctoral Fellow
Organisation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
1.009
Roscoe Building
Manchester
