Correcting the standard errors of two-stage residual inclusion estimators for Mendelian randomization studies

Palmer, Thomas Michael and Holmes, Michael V. and Keating, Brendan J. and Sheehan, Nuala A. (2017) Correcting the standard errors of two-stage residual inclusion estimators for Mendelian randomization studies. American Journal of Epidemiology, 186 (9). pp. 1104-1114. ISSN 0002-9262

[thumbnail of tsri_se_revision_newfigs_2]
Preview
PDF (tsri_se_revision_newfigs_2)
tsri_se_revision_newfigs_2.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial.

Download (3MB)

Abstract

Mendelian randomization studies use genotypes as instrumental variables to test for and estimate the causal effects of modifiable risk factors on outcomes. Two-stage residual inclusion (TSRI) estimators have been used when researchers are willing to make parametric assumptions. However, researchers are currently reporting uncorrected or heteroskedasticity robust standard errors (SEs) for these estimates. We compare several different forms of the SE for linear and logistic TSRI estimates in simulations and in real data examples. Amongst others we consider SEs modified from the approach of Newey (1987), Terza (2016), and bootstrapping. In our simulations Newey, Terza, bootstrap, and corrected two-stage least squares (in the linear case) standard errors gave the best results in terms of coverage and type I error. In the real data examples the Newey SEs were 0.5% and 2% larger than the unadjusted standard errors for the linear and logistic TSRI estimators respectively. We show that TSRI estimators with modified SEs have correct type I error under the null. Researchers should report TSRI estimates with modified SEs instead of reporting unadjusted or heteroskedasticity robust SEs.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
American Journal of Epidemiology
Additional Information:
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in American Journal of Epidemiology following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Tom M Palmer, Michael V Holmes, Brendan J Keating, Nuala A Sheehan; Correcting the Standard Errors of 2-Stage Residual Inclusion Estimators for Mendelian Randomization Studies, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 186, Issue 9, 1 November 2017, Pages 1104–1114, https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwx175 is available online at: https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/186/9/1104/3860090
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2713
Subjects:
?? causal inferenceinstrumental variablesmendelian randomizationtwo-stage predictor substitution estimatorstwo-stage residual inclusion estimatorsepidemiology ??
ID Code:
81484
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
13 Sep 2016 10:06
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Dec 2023 01:40