Causal associations between obstructive sleep apnea and COVID-19: A bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant impact on human health. Whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of COVID-19 remains unclear. We sought to clarify this issue using two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis in large cohorts. Bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to evaluate the potential causality between OSA and COVID-19 by selecting single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables (IVs) from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was selected as the main approach for data analysis to estimate the possible causal effects. Alternative methods such as MR-Egger, the MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO), and leave-one-out analysis methods were implemented as sensitivity analysis approaches to ensure the robustness of the results. All forward MR analyses consistently indicated the absence of a causal relationship between OSA and any COVID-19 phenotype. In the reverse MR analysis, the IVW mode demonstrated that severe respiratory confirmed COVID-19 was correlated with a 4.9% higher risk of OSA (OR, 1.049; 95%CI, 1.018-1.081; P = 0.002), consistent in MR-PRESSO (OR = 1.049, 95%CI 1.018-1.081, P = 0.004), weighted median (OR = 1.048, 95%CI 1.003-1.095, P = 0.035), and MR-Egger (OR = 1.083, 95%CI 1.012-1.190, P = 0.041) methods. There is no significant evidence supporting a causal association between OSA and any COVID phenotype, while we identified potential evidence for a causal effect of severe COVID-19 on an increased risk of OSA.

Gao X ，Wei T ，Wang H ，Sui R ，Liao J ，Sun D ，Han D ... -  《-》

Causal Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Atrial Fibrillation: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Chen W ，Cai X ，Yan H ，Pan Y ... -  《Journal of the American Heart Association》

Correlation between obstructive sleep apnea and cerebral small vessel disease: a mendelian randomization study.

Whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is causally associated with an increased risk of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) remains controversial. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study to clarify the causal relationship between OSA and CSVD risk. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with OSA at the genome-wide significance level (P < 5 × 10- 8) in the FinnGen consortium were selected as instrumental variables. Summary-level data for white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunar infarctions (LIs), cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained from three meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was selected for the major analysis. Weighted-median, MR-Egger, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO), and leave-one-out analysis methods were implemented for the sensitivity analyses. Genetically predicted OSA was not associated with LIs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.86-1.40), WMHs (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.83-1.07), FA (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.75-2.33), MD (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.58-1.47), CMBs (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 0.86-1.94), mixed CMBs (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.63-2.17), and lobar CMBs (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.75-1.76) in IVW method. The results of the sensitivity analyses were generally consistent with the major analyses. This MR study does not support causal associations between OSA and the risk of CSVD in individuals of European ancestry. These findings need to be further validated in randomized controlled trials, larger cohort studies, and MR studies based on larger GWASs.

Wu B ，Liu F ，Sun G ，Wang S ... -  《-》

The causality between leisure sedentary behaviors, physical activity and obstructive sleep apnea: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Previous observational studies have shown a correlation between leisure sedentary behaviors (LSB) and physical activity (PA) with the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the causal associations remain unknown. Therefore, our study used bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify potential causal relationships between LSB/PA and OSA. We sourced genetic variation data for LSB and PA from the UK Biobank, while data on OSA were collected from the FinnGen study. The primary analysis method employed was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach, complemented by the weighted median and MR-Egger methods. For sensitivity analyses, we conducted Cochran's Q test, the MR-Egger intercept test, the MR-PRESSO global test, and the leave-one-out analysis. IVW analyses showed that genetically predicted leisure television watching (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.75, p = 0.007) and computer use (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.15-1.92, p = 0.002) significantly increased the risk of OSA. Conversely, self-reported vigorous physical activity (VPA) (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.11-0.98, p = 0.046) may reduce the risk of OSA. No causal effects on OSA risk were observed for driving or self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Furthermore, the reverse MR analysis indicated no significant causal relationship between OSA and any LSB/PA phenotype. Sensitivity tests showed no significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. This study suggests that leisurely television watching and computer use are risk factors for OSA, while VPA may be a protective factor. Additionally, OSA does not affect PA or LSB levels. We recommend reducing sedentary activities, particularly television watching and computer use, and prioritizing VPA to reduce the risk of OSA. Further research in diverse populations and settings is needed to validate these findings.

Tian H ，Wang A ，Wu H ，Zhou C ，Zhang Z ，Wang J ... -  《Frontiers in Public Health》

[Exploring the causality between intestinal flora and hyperplastic scars of human based on two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis].

Chen WT ，Wang XX ，Zheng WL ，Zhang WQ ，Mao LJ ，Zhuo JN ，Zhou ST ，Yang RH ... -  《-》