Cat ownership is associated with increased asthma prevalence and dog ownership with decreased spirometry values
Braz. j. med. biol. res
;
51(12): e7558, 2018. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-974253
ABSTRACT
The association between pet ownership and the development of allergic and respiratory diseases has been the aim of several studies, however, the effects of exposure in adults remain uncertain. The aims of the present study were to investigate the prevalence of asthma and lung function status among dog and cat owners. This cross-sectional study was performed at two universities with students and workers who were allocated into 3 groups according to pet ownership in the previous year cat owners, dog owners, and no pets (control group). Subjects underwent spirometry, bronchial challenge test with mannitol, skin prick tests, and questionnaires about animal exposures and respiratory symptoms. Control group comprised 125 subjects; cat owner group, 51 subjects; and dog owner group, 140 subjects. Cat owners had increased asthma prevalence (defined by symptoms and positive bronchial challenge test), but no changes in lung function compared to the control group. The dog owner group had lower spirometry values (forced expiratory volume in one second and lower forced vital capacity), but similar asthma prevalence, compared to the control group. In the cat owner group, excess of asthma may have an immunological basis, since we found an association with atopy. Although we did not have endotoxin data from volunteers' households, we postulated that low values of lung function were associated to exposure to endotoxins present in environments exposed to dogs.
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Ownership
/
Asthma
/
Pets
/
Lung
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. med. biol. res
Journal subject:
Biology
/
Medicine
Year:
2018
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Centro Regional Universitário de Espírito Santo do Pinhal/BR
/
Universidade de São Paulo/BR
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