Abstract
BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.