The phrase "a major underlying factor" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing significant reasons or causes that contribute to a particular situation or outcome.
Example: "The study revealed that a major underlying factor in the decline of bee populations is the use of pesticides."
Alternatives: "a significant contributing factor" or "a key underlying cause."
It also spends $100 million a year overseas to fight AIDS, a major underlying factor.
A major underlying factor is the inconvenience of special collection programs compared to general disposal.
Simon Stuart: I agree with you that abject poverty is a major underlying factor that creates the conditions under which poaching can thrive.
Evaluating the agricultural price (i.e. corn, soy meal and pork) uptrend in China from January 2000 to October 2007, Zhang and Reed (2008) side-line the oil price as a major underlying factor.
In the recent history of the planet, humans have been a major underlying factor in determining extinction rates.
A major underlying factor is resistance to different chemotherapeutics.
Age-related degenerative changes in Bruch's membrane and RPE are regarded as the major underlying factor for the development of CNV [ 9].
It is thought that markedly increased RTL1 expression is the major underlying factor for the development of the upd(14 pat-like phenotype.
First, mir-181a may indeed have a mechanistic role; as it is acknowledged that ICU-acquired weakness is multi-factorial then if mir-181a were mechanistic, it would only capture cases in which this mechanism was the major underlying factor.
The combination of these risk factors has been shown to predict type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality [ 2], with physical inactivity identified as a major underlying risk factor.
Beyond resulting in poor health and crime, addictions and substance abuse — especially alcohol — are major underlying factors in other costly social problems like homelessness, domestic violence and child abuse.
