{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T17:55:36Z","timestamp":1785779736011,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785715200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Genes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of death globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries undergoing rapid epidemiological transition. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms have been implicated in modulating risk for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. This study characterizes the distribution of APOE alleles and genotypes in an Angolan population sample and explores associations with demographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Huambo Province, Angola, with 200 unrelated adults aged 40\u201370 years. Genotyping for \u03b52, \u03b53, and \u03b54 was performed via real-time PCR. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were calculated and tested for Hardy\u2013Weinberg equilibrium. Associations with sex, age (\u226454 vs. &gt;54 years), and urban vs. rural residence were analyzed. Results: \u03b53 was the most frequent allele (63%), followed by \u03b54 (24.8%) and \u03b52 (12.2%). The \u03b53 homozygous genotype was prevalent (44%), with \u03b53\/\u03b54 (19%) and \u03b52\/\u03b53 (18%) also common. Significant Hardy\u2013Weinberg disequilibrium was observed due to excess \u03b54 homozygotes and deficit of certain heterozygotes; possible contributing factors, including population structuring, convenience sampling, and technical aspects of genotyping, are discussed. \u03b54 prevalence was higher in urban residents and older individuals, while \u03b53 and \u03b52 were more common in rural areas and younger participants. Conclusions: Our results reveal notable genetic heterogeneity and highlight the epidemiological and evolutionary importance of \u03b54 in Angola. The findings underscore the need for integrating population genomics into public health strategies targeting NCD prevention, especially in rapidly urbanizing African contexts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/genes17080918","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T17:26:52Z","timestamp":1785778012000},"page":"918","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Apolipoprotein E (APOE) Allele Frequencies and Genotypic Distribution in Huambo, Angola"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-9343-1126","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Job","family":"Pakisi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Medicina (FM), Universidade Jos\u00e9 Eduardo dos Santos (UJES), Huambo, Angola"},{"name":"Instituto de Biomedicina, Universidad Le\u00f3n, 24071 Le\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0552-2804","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vicente","family":"Mart\u00edn-S\u00e1nchez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto de Biomedicina, Universidad Le\u00f3n, 24071 Le\u00f3n, Spain"},{"name":"Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiolog\u00eda y Salud P\u00fablica-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1232-0119","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cruz S.","family":"Sebasti\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Sa\u00fade de Angola (CISA), Instituto Nacional de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Sa\u00fade (INIS), Luanda, Angola"},{"name":"Centro Nacional de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Cient\u00edfica (CNIC), Luanda, Angola"},{"name":"Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6951-0607","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sergio","family":"Rodr\u00edguez N\u00fa\u00f1ez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto de Biomedicina, Universidad Le\u00f3n, 24071 Le\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Celina","family":"Capingala-Pakisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculdade de Medicina (FM), Universidade Jos\u00e9 Eduardo dos Santos (UJES), Huambo, Angola"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2818-5487","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Victor","family":"Moreno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiolog\u00eda y Salud P\u00fablica-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain"},{"name":"Catalan Institute of Oncology, Institut d\u2019Investigacio Biomedica de Bellvitge, 08908 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Colorectal Cancer Group, ONCOBELL Program, Institut d\u2019Investigaci\u00f3 Biom\u00e8dica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L\u2019Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), University of Barcelona (UB), L\u2019Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0562-8281","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Enrique","family":"Bay\u00f3n-Darkistade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto de Biomedicina, Universidad Le\u00f3n, 24071 Le\u00f3n, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"WHO (2025). 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