This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the association
between genetic polymorphisms and tendon and ligament injuries in adolescent and
adult athletes of multiple competition sports. The PubMed, Web of Science,
EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE databases were searched until July 7, 2023.
Eligible articles included genetic studies on tendon and ligament injuries and
comparisons between injured and non-injured athletes. This review included 31
articles, comprising 1,687 injury cases and 2,227 controls, from a meta-analysis
of 12 articles. We identified 144 candidate gene polymorphisms (only single
nucleotide polymorphisms were identified). The meta-analyses included vascular
endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) rs699947, collagen type I alpha 1 rs1800012,
collagen type V alpha 1 rs12722, and matrix metalloproteinase 3 rs679620. The
VEGFA rs699947 polymorphism showed a lower risk of injuries in athletes with the
C allele ([C vs. A]: OR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.65–0.98,
I
2
=3.82%, p=0.03). The risk of these
injuries were not affected by other polymorphisms. In conclusion, the VEGFA
rs699947 polymorphism is associated with the risk of tendon and ligament
injuries in athletes. This study provides insights into genetic variations that
contribute to our understanding of the risk factors for such injuries in
athletes.