A recent study published in Health Data Science led by Zhilong Zhang from the Institute of Medical Technology, Health Science Center, Peking University and Professor Luxia Zhang from the National Institute of Health Data Science, Peking University. shed light on the complex relationship between smoking behavior and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using data from more than 500,000 participants in the UK Biobank cohort, researchers conducted both traditional observational studies and advanced Mendelian randomization (MR) analyzes to explore whether smoking behavior directly contributes to CKD.
While observational studies indicated a positive association between smoking status and CKD risk, Mendelian randomization analysis revealed no evidence of a causal relationship. Specifically, genetic variants associated with smoking behavior did not show a direct causal effect on the development of CKD.
These results suggest that associations previously observed in observational studies may be influenced by confounding factors rather than direct causation. Researchers propose that factors such as diabetes and hypertension may act as mediators in the relationship between smoking and CKD.
“Our results highlight the need for more detailed mediation analyzes on large-scale multi-ethnic datasets to fully understand the interaction between smoking and CKD,” said Professor Luxia Zhang.
While smoking remains a significant health risk factor, its direct role in the development of CKD requires further investigation. »
Luxia Zhang, Professor, Institute of Medical Technology, Peking University Health Science Center
Future research will aim to resolve these complexities by analyzing potential mediation pathways and exploring the role of other environmental and genetic factors.
This study provides valuable information on CKD prevention strategies and highlights the importance of addressing confounding factors in public health research.
