Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36191079›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of epidemiology2023

Investigating a possible causal relationship between maternal serum urate concentrations and offspring birthweight: a Mendelian randomization study.

Caitlin S Decina, Rhian Hopkins, Jack Bowden, Beverly M Shields, Deborah A Lawlor, Nicole M Warrington, David M Evans, Rachel M Freathy, Robin N Beaumont

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of epidemiology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Caitlin S DecinaDepartment of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Rhian HopkinsDepartment of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Jack BowdenDepartment of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Beverly M ShieldsDepartment of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Deborah A LawlorMedical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Nicole M WarringtonUniversity of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
David M EvansUniversity of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0663-4621
Rachel M FreathyDepartment of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Robin N BeaumontDepartment of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0750-8248
University of Exeter · GBThe University of Queensland · AUUniversity of Bristol · GB

Funding

Integrating genomic studies of gestational duration and birth weight to understand maternal and fetal causes of adverse pregnancy outcomes and links with later diseasesR01HD101669 · NICHD · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR · PI FREATHY, RACHEL, JACOBSSON, BO · 2021 to 2024
$2.1M
British Heart Foundation AA/18/7/34219British Heart Foundation CH/F/20/90003Department of HealthMedical Research Council MC_PC_17228Medical Research Council MC_PC_21038Medical Research Council MC_QA137853Medical Research Council MC_UU_00011/6Medical Research Council MR/M008924/1NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD101669Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust WT104150Wellcome Trust WT220390
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigher urate levels are associated with higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) in adults, and in pregnancy with lower offspring birthweight. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses suggest a causal effect of higher urate on higher SBP and of higher maternal SBP on lower offspring birthweight. If urate causally reduces birthweight, it might confound the effect of SBP on birthweight. We therefore tested for a causal effect of maternal urate on offspring birthweight.

methodsWe tested the association between maternal urate levels and offspring birthweight using multivariable linear regression in the Exeter Family Study of Childhood Health (EFSOCH; n = 872) and UK Biobank (UKB; n = 133 187). We conducted two-sample MR to test for a causal effect of maternal urate [114 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); n = 288 649 European ancestry] on offspring birthweight (n = 406 063 European ancestry; maternal SNP effect estimates adjusted for fetal effects). We assessed a causal relationship between urate and SBP using one-sample MR in UKB women (n = 199 768).

resultsHigher maternal urate was associated with lower offspring birthweight with similar confounder-adjusted magnitudes in EFSOCH [22 g lower birthweight per 1-SD higher urate (95% CI: -50, 6); P = 0.13] and UKB [-28 g (95% CI: -31, -25); P = 1.8 × 10-75]. The MR causal effect estimate was directionally consistent, but smaller [-11 g (95% CI: -25, 3); PIVW = 0.11]. In women, higher urate was causally associated with higher SBP [1.7 mmHg higher SBP per 1-SD higher urate (95% CI: 1.4, 2.1); P = 7.8 × 10-22], consistent with that previously published in women and men.

conclusionThe marked attenuation of the MR result of maternal urate on offspring birthweight compared with the multivariable regression result suggests previous observational associations may be confounded. The 95% CIs of the MR result included the null but suggest a possible small effect on birthweight. Maternal urate levels are unlikely to be an important contributor to offspring birthweight.

Indexed as

Mendelian Randomization AnalysisUric AcidAdultBirth WeightCausalityFemaleGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansMalePolymorphism, Single NucleotidePregnancyPrenatal CareUric AcidBirthweightblood pressuregeneticsMendelian randomizationserum urate

Identifiers

PMID36191079
PMCPMC9908052
OpenAlexW4300687644

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.