Abstract
BackgroundPostulated epidemiological associations are subject to several biases. We evaluated whether the Chinese literature on human genome epidemiology may offer insights on the operation of selective reporting and language biases.Methods and FindingsWe targeted 13 gene-disease associations, each already assessed by meta-analyses, including at least 15 non-Chinese studies. We searched the Chinese Journal Full-Text Database for additional Chinese studies on the same topics. We identified 161 Chinese studies on 12 of these gene-disease associations; only 20 were PubMed-indexed (seven English full-text). Many studies (14–35 per topic) were available for six topics, covering diseases common in China. With one exception, the first Chinese study appeared with a time lag (2–21 y) after the first non-Chinese study on the topic. Chinese studies showed significantly more prominent genetic effects than non-Chinese studies, and 48% were statistically significant per se, despite their smaller sample size (median sample size 146 versus 268, p < 0.001). The largest genetic effects were often seen in PubMed-indexed Chinese studies (65% statistically significant per se). Non-Chinese studies of Asian-descent populations (27% significant per se) also tended to show somewhat more prominent genetic effects than studies of non-Asian descent (17% significant per se).ConclusionOur data provide evidence for the interplay of selective reporting and language biases in human genome epidemiology. These biases may not be limited to the Chinese literature and point to the need for a global, transparent, comprehensive outlook in molecular population genetics and epidemiologic studies in general.
Highlights
We evaluated whether the Chinese literature on human genome epidemiology may offer insights on the operation of selective reporting and language biases
Our data provide evidence for the interplay of selective reporting and language biases in human genome epidemiology. These biases may not be limited to the Chinese literature and point to the need for a global, transparent, comprehensive outlook in molecular population genetics and epidemiologic studies in general
Research conducted in non-English-speaking countries may be published either in English-language journals that are usually indexed in major international bibliographic databases or in domestic journals, many of which are not indexed in international databases
Summary
Research conducted in non-English-speaking countries may be published either in English-language journals that are usually indexed in major international bibliographic databases or in domestic journals, many of which are not indexed in international databases. Selective publication of studies with different results may potentially invalidate the overall picture about genetic risk factors. Research done in non-English-speaking countries can be published in English journals that are usually indexed in major international databases, but more often is published in domestic journals, many of which are not indexed in international databases. This selective publication is called language bias. Publication bias is of concern, especially in genetics, which is a very fast-moving area of research
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