PuSH - Publication Server of Helmholtz Zentrum München

Svanes, C.* ; Zock, J.P.* ; Antò, J.M.* ; Dharmage, S.* ; Norbäck, D.* ; Wjst, M. ; Heinrich, J. ; Jarvis, D.* ; de Marco, R.* ; Plana, E.* ; Raherison, C.* ; Sunyer, J.* ; European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (*)

Do asthma and allergy influence subsequent pet keeping? An analysis of childhood and adulthood.

J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 118, 691-698 (2006)
DOI
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
Background: Asthma and allergy might influence the choice of keeping pets, leading to apparent protective effects of pets on allergic disease. Objective: We investigated the effects of asthma and allergy on subsequent pet keeping in childhood and adulthood. Methods: Information about asthma and pet keeping at ages 0 to 4, 5 to 15, 20 to 44, and 26 to 56 years was provided by 9812 subjects participating in the 9-year follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Results: In childhood asthma debut at younger than 5 years was associated with less cat keeping at 5 to 15 years (odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.44-0.82), an effect only observed when the parents did not have asthma or allergy (P interaction = .045). Childhood asthma did not influence adult pet ownership, unless there were adult symptoms. Adults less often acquired cats at follow-up if they had 3 or more asthma symptoms (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.95), were taking asthma medication (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.31-0.74), had hay fever (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62-0.91), had atopy (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61-0.91), or had specific IgE to cat (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.39-0.82) at baseline. Adults who already had pets usually continued keeping the same type of pet, except that the presence of 3 or more asthma symptoms was associated with less subsequent dog keeping (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53-0.89). Pet removal between surveys to reduce allergen was reported by 4.7%. Conclusion: Selective avoidance subsequent to asthma or allergy was observed for childhood cat keeping and adult cat acquisition. Avoidance would produce an apparent protective effect of cats on childhood asthma (large OR, 0.83). Avoidance was generally not observed for dogs or birds. Clinical implications: A part of the protective effects of childhood cats on asthma and allergy can be attributed to selective avoidance. © 2006 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Altmetric
Additional Metrics?
[➜Log in]
Edit extra informations Login
Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords selective avoidance; pets; cats; dogs; birds; asthma; atopy; ECRHS
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0091-6749
e-ISSN 1097-6825
Journal The journal of allergy and clinical immunology
Quellenangaben Volume: 118, Issue: 3, Pages: 691-698 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place Amsterdam [u.a.]
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)