Association between tumor necrosis factor-α-308G/A polymorphism and obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-308G/A polymorphism has been implicated in susceptibility to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, results from previous studies are inconsistent. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the published studies was performed to investigate this association.

Method: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Weipu databases for published studies evaluating the association between -308G/A polymorphism and OSA. Data were extracted using standardized forms and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results: Four case-control studies involving a total of 419 cases and 460 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Combined data indicated that individuals carrying the -308A allele had a 65% increased risk of developing OSA when compared with the GG homozygotes (OR=1.65, 95% CI=1.02-2.68, p=0.04). In adults, the risk was even higher, elevated by 100% (OR=2.00, 95% CI=1.26-3.18, p=0.003).

Conclusion: The TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism contributes to the risk of OSA, especially in adults.