Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture

Abstract Objective Previous observational studies on the association between aspirin use, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture risk have yielded controversial results. This study explored the causal relationship between aspirin use, BMD, and fracture risk using Mendelian randomization (MR). Meth...

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Main Author: Qi-Pei Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Hereditas
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-024-00359-3
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author Qi-Pei Liu
author_facet Qi-Pei Liu
author_sort Qi-Pei Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective Previous observational studies on the association between aspirin use, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture risk have yielded controversial results. This study explored the causal relationship between aspirin use, BMD, and fracture risk using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods Summary data for aspirin use and BMD of five different body parts (femoral neck, lumbar spine, forearm, heel, and ultra distal forearm) and fractures were obtained from the integrative epidemiology unit open genome-wide association studies database for bidirectional MR analysis. An appropriate model was chosen based on Cochran's Q test, with inverse variance-weighted as the primary method for MR analysis, supplemented by the weighted-median and MR-Egger methods. MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO were used to test for horizontal pleiotropy and exclude significant outliers that could bias the results. Various sensitivity analyses, including leave-one-out analysis, were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings. Results Aspirin use significantly increased lumbar spine BMD (odds ratio [OR] = 4.660; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.365–15.906; P = 0.014). No significant causal association was found between aspirin use and fracture risk (beta = 59.951; 95% CI: -265.189–385.091; P = 0.718). No significant reverse causality was observed. Conclusion This study indicates that aspirin use does not significantly affect fracture risk but has a significant protective effect on lumbar spine BMD, revealing a potential benefit of aspirin against osteoporosis.
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spelling doaj-art-c71560efd90e41f1bc6740e634b7250f2025-01-12T12:26:16ZengBMCHereditas1601-52232025-01-0116211810.1186/s41065-024-00359-3Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fractureQi-Pei Liu0Guangzhou University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Objective Previous observational studies on the association between aspirin use, bone mineral density (BMD), and fracture risk have yielded controversial results. This study explored the causal relationship between aspirin use, BMD, and fracture risk using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods Summary data for aspirin use and BMD of five different body parts (femoral neck, lumbar spine, forearm, heel, and ultra distal forearm) and fractures were obtained from the integrative epidemiology unit open genome-wide association studies database for bidirectional MR analysis. An appropriate model was chosen based on Cochran's Q test, with inverse variance-weighted as the primary method for MR analysis, supplemented by the weighted-median and MR-Egger methods. MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO were used to test for horizontal pleiotropy and exclude significant outliers that could bias the results. Various sensitivity analyses, including leave-one-out analysis, were conducted to ensure the robustness of the findings. Results Aspirin use significantly increased lumbar spine BMD (odds ratio [OR] = 4.660; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.365–15.906; P = 0.014). No significant causal association was found between aspirin use and fracture risk (beta = 59.951; 95% CI: -265.189–385.091; P = 0.718). No significant reverse causality was observed. Conclusion This study indicates that aspirin use does not significantly affect fracture risk but has a significant protective effect on lumbar spine BMD, revealing a potential benefit of aspirin against osteoporosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-024-00359-3Mendelian randomizationAspirinOsteoporosisBone mineral densityFractureCausality
spellingShingle Qi-Pei Liu
Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture
Hereditas
Mendelian randomization
Aspirin
Osteoporosis
Bone mineral density
Fracture
Causality
title Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture
title_full Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture
title_fullStr Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture
title_full_unstemmed Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture
title_short Application of Mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture
title_sort application of mendelian randomization analysis to explore causal associations of aspirin use with bone mineral density and risk of fracture
topic Mendelian randomization
Aspirin
Osteoporosis
Bone mineral density
Fracture
Causality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41065-024-00359-3
work_keys_str_mv AT qipeiliu applicationofmendelianrandomizationanalysistoexplorecausalassociationsofaspirinusewithbonemineraldensityandriskoffracture