A subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed that both Asian and Caucasian osteoarthritis patients had higher levels of VEGF expression compared to their respective healthy counterparts (Asians: SMD = 5.49, 95% CI: 3.44 ~ 7.54, P < 0.001; Caucasians: SMD = 15.17, 95% CI: 5.21 ~ 25.13, P = 0.003; respectively). Here, VEGFA is linked to osteoarthritis.