Photo Credit: Tharakorn

The following is a summary of the study titled “Associations Between Modifiable Risk Factors and Constipation: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study,” published in the October 2024 issue of Gastroenterology by Chang et al.

For a study, researchers focused on identifying modifiable risk factors for constipation through Mendelian randomization. This method leverages genetic data to establish causal relationships between risk factors and health outcomes. Early detection of such factors is crucial for preventing constipation, a common gastrointestinal issue.

Researchers employed the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method as the primary analytical tool and used multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) to adjust for biases related to single-variable analysis. Sensitivity tests, including the MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran’s Q test, and leave-one-out analysis, were conducted to confirm the robustness of the findings. To account for false positives, Bonferroni correction was applied.

Key findings from the IVW analysis revealed significant causal links between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) [OR = 1.192, 95% CI 1.079–1.315, P = 0.0005], atorvastatin use [OR = 16.995, 95% CI 3.327–86.816, P = 0.0007], and constipation. Additionally, potential associations were found between education level [OR = 0.859, 95% CI 0.767–0.964, P = 0.009], major depressive disorder [OR = 1.206, 95% CI 1.041–1.399, P = 0.013], hypothyroidism [OR = 2.299, 95% CI 1.327–3.985, P = 0.003], aspirin use [OR = 4.872, 95% CI 1.174–20.221, P = 0.029], and constipation. No significant causal associations were observed for other risk factors included in the analysis.

Sensitivity analyses showed no evidence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy, strengthening the validity of the positive results.

The study concluded that modifiable risk factors such as GERD, atorvastatin use, education level, major depressive disorder, hypothyroidism, and aspirin use could be important targets for preventing constipation. These findings provide critical insights that could guide public health strategies to reduce constipation incidence.

Source: bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12876-024-03384-8