BACKGROUND: The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine whether genetic polymorphisms in the osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene contribute to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Electronic databases were searched carefully without any language restriction. Analyses of data were conducted using STATA software. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were also calculated.

RESULTS: Seven clinical case-control studies that enrolled 1170 CVD patients and 1194 healthy subjects were included. The results indicated that OPG gene polymorphism might be closely associated with susceptibility to CVD, especially for rs2073617 T>C and rs2073618 G>C polymorphisms. Ethnicity-stratified analysis indicated that genetic polymorphism in the OPG were closely related with the pathogenesis of CVD among Asians (all P<0.001), but no obvious relationship was found among Caucasians (all P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis provided quantitative evidence that OPG gene polymorphism may be closely related to an increased risk of CVD, especially for rs2073617 T>C and rs2073618 G>C polymorphisms.

Keywords: Cardiovascular Diseases - genetics, Asian Continental Ancestry Group - genetics, Case-Control Studies, European Continental Ancestry Group - genetics, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, genetic testing, Odds Ratio, Osteoprotegerin - genetics, Polymorphism, Genetic, Risk Factors