Epigenetic Changes Related to Hypertension in Asian Adults: A Systematic Review

Elevated high blood pressure is controlled by complicated, little-understood genetic and epigenetic pathways that are influenced by both heritable and environmental variables. Many adult systolic and diastolic blood pressure-related genomic loci have been identified through previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS); meanwhile, studies specifically on Asian adult populations have not been done. This study aims to comprehensively assess and summarize any gene changes that have been studied and see whether there is a possible influence between epigenetic changes and hypertension in Asian adults.

This evidence-based analysis is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement and has been registered in PROSPERO under registration number [CRD42024622261]. The data were processed qualitatively to assess the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ) standards as the threshold. Our study in particular shows that epigenetic modifications may play a role in hypertension, particularly in Asian individuals.

A total of 28 studies were selected for qualitative evaluation. In the adult Asian population, 26 publications (92.8%) reported a relationship between blood pressure and epigenetics. Every study describes a distinct gene or location associated with hypo- or hypermethylation. Elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure was linked to variations of several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), cytosine phosphate guanines (CPGs), and other monogenic genes.

Alterations in epigenetic modifications in potential genes or loci are linked to systolic and diastolic blood pressure of Asian adult populations. PROSPERO Protocol Registration: CRD42024622261.