Association of APOE gene and multiple risk factors with hypertension in Tibetan

BACKGROUNDThe distribution of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene and its relationship with hypertension at high altitude in Tibet have not been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to understand the distribution of APOE genotypes and APOE rs7412, rs429358 genotypes in the middle-aged and elderly Tibetan population in Tibet, and to explore the related influencing factors by constructing a Bayesian network model of hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Tibetans. METHODSFrom November 2021 to November 2022, a multi-stage cluster random sampling method was employed to collect data from 511 middle-aged and elderly Tibetans residing in the Ali region, Nagqu City, and Shannan City of Tibet. The APOE gene, rs429358 and rs7412 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed by fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multivariate logistic regression analysis and Bayesian Network (BN) were applied to examine the relationship between Covariates and hypertension. RESULTSAmong all subjects, the frequencies of genotypes {varepsilon}2/{varepsilon}3, {varepsilon}2/{varepsilon}4, {varepsilon}3/{varepsilon}3 and {varepsilon}3/{varepsilon}4 were 14.8%,1.8%,75.0%, and 8.4%, respectively. APOE gene rs7412 locus CC, CT and TT genotype frequencies were 83.4%, 0 and 16.6%, respectively, and rs429358 locus TT, TC and CC genotypes, genotype frequencies were 89.8%, 10.2% and 0. The results of this study indicated no correlation between APOE genotypes, APOE rs7412, rs429358 genotypes, and the prevalence of hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Tibetan population in Tibet. Sex, age, overweight obesity, hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPC) represent direct risk factors for hypertension based on a Bayesian network. CONCLUSIONSAPOE genotype and APOE rs7412, rs429358 genotypes were not genetically correlated with hypertension in middle-aged and elderly Tibetan populations in Tibet. The Bayesian network model revealed the direct and indirect factors and the strength of the association of the hypertension. Additionally, it elucidated the complex network relationships among these factors, which provided a scientific basis for the early prevention of hypertension among middle-aged and elderly Tibetan populations in Tibet.