# The causal role of multiple negative emotions in chronic respiratory diseases: A two-sample Mendelian randomized study

## TL;DR

This study finds that certain negative emotions like neuroticism and worry may cause asthma and COPD, suggesting emotional health could help prevent these diseases.

## Contribution

This is the first Mendelian Randomization study to identify causal links between multiple negative emotions and chronic respiratory diseases.

## Key findings

- Neuroticism and feeling worried increase asthma risk.
- Mood swings and guilt are linked to higher COPD risk.
- Negative emotions show no causal link to bronchiectasis, IPF, or sarcoidosis.

## Abstract

The relationship between negative emotions and chronic respiratory diseases remains largely unexplored. In this study, we employ Mendelian Randomization (MR) to investigate the potential causal relationship between negative emotions and chronic respiratory diseases.

The data used in this study were derived from the publicly available GWAS summary statistics in the IEU Open GWAS database, including 12 negative emotions and 6 chronic respiratory diseases: asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis, sleep apnea syndrome, and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Five models were established for MR analysis. Leave-one-out sensitivity analysis, MR pleiotropy residual sum, and MR-PRESSO, and Cochran's Q test were utilized to confirm heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

This study indicates a causal relationship between negative emotions and chronic respiratory disease. Specifically, neuroticism, experiencing mood swings, feeling nervous and feeling worried were associated with an increased risk of asthma. Additionally, neuroticism, feeling miserable, experiencing mood swings, feeling guilty, and worrying too long after an embarrassing experience were associated with an increased risk of COPD. Similarly, neuroticism, experiencing mood swings, and feeling hurt increased the risk of sleep apnea syndrome. No causal association was observed between negative emotions and bronchiectasis, IPF, or sarcoidosis. In MVMR analysis, negative emotions were also associated with asthma and sleep apnea syndrome, while only the causal effect of experiencing mood swings persisted with COPD.

This study indicated a causal effect between negative emotions and chronic respiratory diseases, highlighting the importance of early intervention measures targeting negative emotions in the prevention of chronic respiratory diseases.