Introduction To study the relationship between aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH₂) G1951A gene polymorphism and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hypopnoea Syndrome (OSAHS) in male drinkers.

Methods 226 male drinkers were enrolled in this study with a standard polysomnography. ALDH₂ genotypes were detected by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results (1) We detected three kinds of genotypes and two kinds of allele of ALDH2 gene G1951A polymorphism. The frequency of ALDH2 genotype GG, GA, AA were 0.854, 0.137, 0.009 and allele G and A were 0.923, 0.077 respectively in 226 male drinkers.

The genotypic and allelic frequencies were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (=0.3606, p=0.5482). (2) The frequency of ALDH2 genotype GG/(GA+AA) (0.855/0.145) and allele G/A (0.925/0.075) in OSAHS patients had no statistical differences comparing with the control group (p>0.05. Analysing the data stratified with BMI, there was also no significant differences of the frequency of ALDH2 genotype and allele between OSAHS group and the control group either in normoweight or overweight subjects (p>0.05). (3) There were no any differences in AHI, the lowest SaO₂ and the longest apnoea duration between subjects with the two genotypes (GG and (GA+AA)) either in OSAHS patients or the control group.

Conclusion ALDH₂ gene G1951A polymorphism was found in male drinkers, it had no any association with OSAHS.