METHODS: Published studies were searched using the PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Sensitivity analysis was performed using \"leave one out\" method. Egger\'s test was used to evaluate the publication bias. The random effect model was used to calculate the pooled effect size if P < 0.05 or I2 ≥ 50%; otherwise, the fixed effect model was selected.
RESULTS: Four eligible studies, including 2599 participants, were enrolled in the included studies from 2007 to 2014. Quality evaluation revealed that each study had high NOS scores ranged from 5 to 7. The LIPC rs1800588 polymorphism was not found to be associated with the susceptibility to hypertension under all genetic models (T vs C, P = 0.38; CT vs CC, P = 0.46; TT vs CC, P = 0.38; TT vs CC + CT, P = 0.54; TT + CT vs CC, P = 0.34). Notably, the frequencies of the AA+GA genotypes of LIPC rs2070895 polymorphism were related to an increased risk of hypertension (AA+GA vs. GG, OR = 1.1954, 95% CI: 1.0001-1.4288, P = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The LIPC rs2070895 polymorphism was found to be related to an increased risk of hypertension. However, LIPC rs1800588 polymorphism was not associated with the susceptibility to hypertension.