AUTHOR=Wang Juntao , Hu Yanlan , Zeng Jun , Li Quan , He Lanfen , Hao Wenjie , Song Xingyue , Yan Shijiao , Lv Chuanzhu 

TITLE=Exploring the Causality Between Body Mass Index and Sepsis: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 68 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605548

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605548

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objective: Observational epidemiological studies have shown a link between obesity and sepsis, but any causal relationship is not clear. Our study aimed to explore the correlation and causal relationship between body mass index and sepsis by a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).
Methods: Three MR methods, MR-Egger regression, weighted median estimator, and inverse variance-weighted, were used to evaluate the causal relationship between body mass index and sepsis. Odds ratio (OR) were used as the evaluation index of causality, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess pleiotropy and instrument validity.
Results: By two-sample MR, the inverse variance weighting method results suggested that increased body mass index was associated with an increased risk of sepsis (OR, 1.32; p = 1.37 × 10−9) and streptococcal septicemia (OR 1.46; p = 0.007), but there was no causal relationship with puerperal sepsis (OR, 1.06; p = 0.577). Sensitivity analysis was consistent with the results, and there was no heterogeneity and level of pleiotropy.
Conclusion: Our study supports a causal relationship between body mass index and sepsis. Proper control of body mass index may prevent sepsis.