This project will investigate the genetic sharing of obesity-related traits on the overall risk of sarcoidosis. To this end, we will estimate genetic correlation and causality between obesity-related traits including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), WHR adjusted for BMI (WHRadjBMI), and sarcoidosis. Chiefly, we will examine genetic variants associated with obesity-related traits including body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), WHR adjusted for BMI (WHRadjBMI)[1] on the risk of sarcoidosis. Using genome-wide association summary statistics, we will calculate the genetic correlation via linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and causality via Mendelian Randomization (MR). The investigation will be carried out in a Swedish cohort that includes 1000 sarcoidosis cases and 3500 healthy controls, totaling 4500 individuals aged 30-70 years.

References:
[1] Pulit SL, Stoneman C, Morris AP, Wood AR, Glastonbury CA, Tyrrell J, et al. Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for body fat distribution in 694,649 individuals of European ancestry. Hum Mol Genet 2019;28:166–74.