Understanding the Assumptions Underlying Instrumental Variable Analyses: a Brief Review of Falsification Strategies and Related Tools

Current Epidemiology Reports
Jeremy Labrecque, Sonja A Swanson

Abstract

Instrumental variable (IV) methods continue to be applied to questions ranging from genetic to social epidemiology. In the epidemiologic literature, discussion of whether the assumptions underlying IV analyses hold is often limited to only certain assumptions and even then, arguments are mostly made using subject matter knowledge. To complement subject matter knowledge, there exist a variety of falsification strategies and other tools for weighing the plausibility of the assumptions underlying IV analyses. There are many tools that can refute the IV assumptions or help estimate the magnitude or direction of possible bias if the conditions do not hold perfectly. Many of these tools, including both recently developed strategies and strategies described decades ago, are underused or only used in specific applications of IV methods in epidemiology. Although estimating causal effects with IV analyses relies on unverifiable assumptions, the assumptions can sometimes be refuted. We suggest that the epidemiologists using IV analyses employ all the falsification strategies that apply to their research question in order to avoid settings that demonstrably violate a core condition for valid inference.

References

Nov 15, 1994·Statistics in Medicine·S G Baker, K S Lindeman
Aug 3, 2000·International Journal of Epidemiology·S Greenland
Jun 7, 2006·Epidemiology·Miguel A Hernán, James M Robins
Aug 21, 2008·International Journal of Obesity : Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity·M A Hernán, S L Taubman
Nov 27, 2008·American Journal of Epidemiology·Jeremy A RassenM Alan Brookhart
Mar 19, 2011·International Journal of Epidemiology·Stephen BurgessUNKNOWN CRP CHD Genetics Collaboration
Jan 17, 2012·American Journal of Epidemiology·M Maria GlymourJames M Robins
Apr 4, 2013·Epidemiology·Sonja A Swanson, Miguel A Hernán
Aug 9, 2013·International Journal of Epidemiology·Hyunseung KangDylan S Small
Apr 1, 2014·Epidemiology·Tyler J VanderWeelePeter Kraft
Jan 23, 2015·American Journal of Epidemiology·Sonja A SwansonMiguel A Hernán
Feb 3, 2015·Epidemiology·Anna G C BoefOlaf M Dekkers
Mar 19, 2015·Epidemiology·Sonja A SwansonMiguel A Hernán
May 9, 2015·International Journal of Epidemiology·Anna G C BoefSaskia le Cessie
May 16, 2015·Epidemiology·John W Jackson, Sonja A Swanson
Jun 8, 2015·International Journal of Epidemiology·Jack BowdenStephen Burgess
Jul 22, 2015·Epidemiology·Charlie PooleTyler J VanderWeele
Aug 19, 2015·Statistical Methods in Medical Research·Stephen BurgessSimon G Thompson
Feb 9, 2017·Epidemiology·Chelsea CananBryan Lau
Apr 12, 2017·International Journal of Epidemiology·Neil M DaviesFrank Windmeijer
Jul 24, 2018·Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series B, Statistical Methodology·Linbo Wang, Eric Tchetgen Tchetgen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 19, 2020·Neurology·Sebastian E BaumeisterHansjörg Baurecht
Aug 26, 2020·Epidemiology·Venexia M WalkerPatrick G Kehoe
Jul 31, 2020·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Michael P GroszFelix Thoemmes
Sep 14, 2020·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Danielle M AdamsMurray J Cairns
Oct 9, 2020·International Journal of Epidemiology·Andrew McMartin, Dalton Conley
Mar 9, 2021·Psychological Medicine·Gemma Hammerton, Marcus R Munafò
Apr 11, 2021·Nature Medicine·Liam GazianoUNKNOWN VA Million Veteran Program COVID-19 Science Initiative
Apr 23, 2021·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume·Nathan H VaradyAntonia F Chen
May 8, 2021·European Journal of Epidemiology·Alice R CarterLaura D Howe
Jun 15, 2021·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·Tarjei Widding-HavneraasArnstein Mykletun
Jun 17, 2021·American Journal of Epidemiology·Elizabeth W Diemer, Sonja A Swanson
Sep 3, 2021·Journal of Clinical Periodontology·Sebastian-Edgar BaumeisterBirte Holtfreter
Sep 17, 2021·American Journal of Epidemiology·Michelle C Dimitris, Robert W Platt
Sep 30, 2021·Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention : a Publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, Cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology·Vanessa Y TanNicholas J Timpson
Jul 11, 2021·Cancer Discovery·Romain RiscalM Celeste Simon
Dec 23, 2021·Current Protocols·Danielle Rasooly, Gina M Peloso
Dec 7, 2021·Journal of Clinical Periodontology·Sebastian-Edgar BaumeisterMichael Nolde

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

MR
Egger

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.