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Retracted: Assessing the Causal Association Between COVID-19 and Graves Disease: Mendelian Randomization Study

2025· article· en· 1 citations· W4409254993 on OpenAlex· 10.2196/66003

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Post-publication record

OpenAlex flags this work as retracted, but it carries no matching Retraction Watch record in this frame.

Abstract

Background: Graves disease (GD) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder characterized by hyperthyroidism and autoantibodies. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about its potential relationship with autoimmune diseases like GD. Objective: This study aims to investigate the causal association between COVID-19 and GD through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and assess the impact of COVID-19 on GD. Methods: We conducted an MR study using extensive genome-wide association study data for GD and COVID-19 susceptibility and its severity. We used stringent single nucleotide polymorphism selection criteria and various MR methodologies, including inverse-variance weighting, MR-Egger, and weighted median analyses, to assess causal relationships. We also conducted tests for directional pleiotropy and heterogeneity, as well as sensitivity analyses. Results: The MR analysis, based on the largest available dataset to date, did not provide evidence supporting a causal relationship between COVID-19 susceptibility (odds ratio [OR] 0.989, 95% CI 0.405-2.851; P=.93), COVID-19 hospitalization (OR 0.974, 95% CI 0.852-1.113; P=.70), COVID-19 severity (OR 0.979, 95% CI 0.890-1.077; P=.66), and GD. Tests for directional pleiotropy and heterogeneity, as well as sensitivity analyses, supported these findings. Conclusions: This comprehensive MR study does not provide sufficient evidence to support a causal relationship between COVID-19 and the onset or exacerbation of GD. These results contribute to a better understanding of the potential association between COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases, alleviating concerns about a surge in autoimmune thyroid diseases due to the pandemic. Further research is warranted to explore this complex relationship thoroughly.

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The record

Venue
JMIR Formative Research
Topic
Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Field
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Canadian institutions
Funders
Keywords
Mendelian randomizationGenome-wide association studyMedicineOdds ratioInternal medicineGraves' diseaseDiseaseSingle-nucleotide polymorphismGeneticsBiologyGenotypeGenetic variants
Has abstract in OpenAlex
yes