Association between apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and the risk of coronary artery disease in Hakka postmenopausal women in southern China

Background Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and conveys a higher risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association betweenAPOEgene polymorphism and the risk of CAD in postmenopausal Hakka women in southern China. Methods TheAPOEgenotypes of 653 CAD patients and 646 control participants were determined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization to a Sinochip. Results The prevalence of eachAPOEgenotype differed between CAD patients and control participants (P = 0.011). TheE3/E3genotype was the most common and theE2/E2genotype was the least common in the study sample. Moreover, the presence of epsilon 4allele was associated with higher serum concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and lower concentration of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that participants with epsilon 4allele have a significantly higher risk of CAD after adjustment for the presence of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and their serum uric acid, TC, and LDL-C concentrations (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-2.05,P = 0.010). Conclusions The present results suggest thatAPOEpolymorphism is associated with a higher risk of CAD in postmenopausal Hakka women in southern China.