Objective: To have a better understanding of genetic contributions to the development of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by reviewing studies on its genetic basis.
Data sources: A comprehensive search of the PubMed literature without restriction on the publication date was carried out using terms "obstructive sleep apnea" and "candidate genes" or "genetics".
Study selection: Articles were selected if they were an original research paper or meta analysis of the genetic factors of OSAHS.
Results: Four intermediate phenotypes were described and several candidate genes that may determine the expression and severity of OSAHS were reviewed.
Conclusion: Multiple gene-gene interactions occurring in genes that affect obesity, craniofacial structure, ventilator control and asleep-awake pattern may influence the expression of OSAHS in a suitable environment.