Collider scope: when selection bias can substantially influence observed associations

Marcus R Munafò*, Kate Tilling, Amy E Taylor, David M Evans, George Davey Smith

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

503 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Large-scale cross-sectional and cohort studies have transformed our understanding of the genetic and environmental determinants of health outcomes. However, the representativeness of these samples may be limited-either through selection into studies, or by attrition from studies over time. Here we explore the potential impact of this selection bias on results obtained from these studies, from the perspective that this amounts to conditioning on a collider (i.e. a form of collider bias). Whereas it is acknowledged that selection bias will have a strong effect on representativeness and prevalence estimates, it is often assumed that it should not have a strong impact on estimates of associations. We argue that because selection can induce collider bias (which occurs when two variables independently influence a third variable, and that third variable is conditioned upon), selection can lead to substantially biased estimates of associations. In particular, selection related to phenotypes can bias associations with genetic variants associated with those phenotypes. In simulations, we show that even modest influences on selection into, or attrition from, a study can generate biased and potentially misleading estimates of both phenotypic and genotypic associations. Our results highlight the value of knowing which population your study sample is representative of. If the factors influencing selection and attrition are known, they can be adjusted for. For example, having DNA available on most participants in a birth cohort study offers the possibility of investigating the extent to which polygenic scores predict subsequent participation, which in turn would enable sensitivity analyses of the extent to which bias might distort estimates.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberdyx217
Pages (from-to)226-235
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology
Volume47
Issue number1
Early online date27 Sept 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2018

Research Groups and Themes

  • Brain and Behaviour
  • Tobacco and Alcohol

Keywords

  • ALSPAC
  • Cohort studies
  • Collider bias
  • Representativeness
  • Selection bias
  • UK Biobank

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  • MRC UoB UNITE Unit - programme 4

    Davey Smith, G. (Principal Investigator) & Evans, D. (Principal Investigator)

    1/06/131/04/18

    Project: Research

  • MRC UoB UNITE Unit - Programme 1

    Davey Smith, G. (Principal Investigator)

    1/06/1331/03/18

    Project: Research

  • IEU Theme 3

    Windmeijer, F. (Principal Investigator), Tilling, K. M. (Researcher) & Tilling, K. M. (Principal Investigator)

    1/06/1331/03/18

    Project: Research

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