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Review
. 2024 Dec 13:15:1444808.
doi: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1444808. eCollection 2024.

Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal factors behind diabetic nephropathy: evidence, opportunities, and challenges

Qinchuan Huang #  1 , Chen An #  2 , Shiyun Tang  1   3 , Yulin Leng  1   3 , Yaowen Zhang  1 , Bin Wan  1 , Yutong Han  1 , Yue Luo  1 , Chunguang Xie  1   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal factors behind diabetic nephropathy: evidence, opportunities, and challenges

Qinchuan Huang et al. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), as the most serious minor vascular complication of diabetes, imposes a significant socioeconomic and medical cost around the world, and its prevention and treatment are a major challenge in the current medical community. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials have revealed protective and risk factors for some DN. However, the conclusions of these researches may be influenced by several types of confounding. Mendelian randomization is a new epidemiological method mainly used to infer the causal relationship between exposure and outcome. Many Mendelian randomization studies have found potential causal relationships between DN and some diseases and lifestyle habits, thus providing valuable data for future mechanistic studies as well as the development and implementation of clinical prevention strategies. As a result, the purpose of this review is to evaluate the published Mendelian randomization study of DN, using the bibliometric research method, analyze the current research status and hot spots, and further summarize the genetic evidence about the potential protection of DN and risk factors to provide new inspiration for the etiology of DN and as a reference for clinical intervention.

Keywords: Mendelian randomization; bibliometrics analysis; causal relationship; diabetic nephropathy; genetic variation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mendelian randomization assumption model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Annual scientific production of DN-related MR analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Country scientific production of DN-related MR analysis Darker colors indicate a higher number of productions; lighter colors indicate a lower number of production.
Figure 4
Figure 4
WordCloud of DN-related MR analysis.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Researcher collaboration network of DN-related MR analysis Each dot represents a researcher, and the larger dot indicates higher output. The line between dots indicates that the researchers have cooperation, and the thicker line indicates the cooperation is closer.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Risk factors for DN in the MR analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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