Autoimmune Thyroid Disease And Human Health: A Systematic Review Of Mendelian Randomization Studies

This systematic review of 123 Mendelian randomization studies assessed the causal relationships between autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and various health outcomes. The findings indicate that AITD significantly increases the risk of numerous conditions, including coronary atherosclerosis, major depression, rheumatoid arthritis, alopecia areata, and type 1 and type 2 diabetes, among others, while decreasing the risk of lung cancer and allergic rhinitis. The studies were of high methodological quality, providing robust evidence of the bidirectional relationships between AITD and these health outcomes. The review highlights the importance of preventing and managing AITD and suggests new directions for future research on its prevention and treatment.