Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome susceptible genes in the Chinese population: a meta-analysis of 21 case–control studies

Abstract

Background: Numbers of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified as risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in the Chinese population; however, published articles drew incompatible or even contradictory results. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptible SNPs and risk of OSAS in the Chinese population. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of seven polymorphisms and risk of OSAS based on 21 case–control studies. Results: The results of our study showed that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) −308 G/A (OR = 3.70, 95 % CI = 1.39–9.83), gene-linked polymorphic region (LPR) (OR = 0.57, 95 % CI = 0.41–0.79), and variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) of the 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter gene (5-HTT) (OR = 3.44, 95 % CI = 1.49–7.95) polymorphisms were associated with OSAS risk in the Chinese population, while there was no significant association between 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor (5-HTR2A) 102C/T, 5-HTR2A A1438G, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I)/deletion (D), or leptin receptor (LEPR)-Gln 223Arg polymorphism and risk of OSAS in the Chinese population. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that TNF-α 308 G/A, 5-HTT LPR, and 5-HTT-VNTR polymorphisms were associated with OSAS risk, whereas little association was observed between 5-HTR2A 102C/T, 5-HTR2A A1438G, ACE I/D, or LEPR-Gln 223Arg polymorphism and risk of OSAS in the Chinese population.