Abstract
BackgroundAsthma is a heterogeneous condition and differential effects of pet ownership on non-atopic versus atopic asthma have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pet ownership during pregnancy and early childhood was associated with wheezing from birth to age 7 years and with lung function at age 8 years in a UK population-based birth cohort.MethodsData from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were used to investigate associations of pet ownership at six time-points from pregnancy to age 7 years with concurrent episodes of wheezing, wheezing trajectories (phenotypes) and lung function at age 8 years using logistic regression models adjusted for child’s sex, maternal history of asthma/atopy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and family adversity.Results4,706 children had complete data on pet ownership and wheezing. From birth to age 7 years, cat ownership was associated with an overall 6% lower odds of wheezing (OR=0.94 (0.89-0.99)). Rabbit and rodent ownership was associated with 21% (OR=1.21 (1.12-1.31)) and 11% (OR=1.11 (1.02–1.21)) higher odds of wheezing, respectively, with strongest effects evident during infancy. Rabbit and rodent ownership was positively associated with a ‘persistent wheeze’ phenotype. Pet ownership was not associated with lung function at age 8 years, with the exception of positive associations of rodent and bird ownership with better lung function.ConclusionsCat ownership was associated with reduced risk, and rabbit and rodent ownership with increased risk, of wheezing during childhood. The mechanisms behind these differential effects warrant further investigation.
Highlights
Asthma during childhood has a considerable impact on quality-of-life and healthcare costs [1,2]
Cat ownership was associated with reduced risk, and rabbit and rodent ownership with increased risk, of wheezing during childhood
We reported previously that family ownership of domestic pets during early life, including during the pre-natal period, was associated with lower odds of atopic asthma by mid-childhood compared with no pet ownership [7], confirming findings from previous studies [8,9,10]
Summary
Asthma during childhood has a considerable impact on quality-of-life and healthcare costs [1,2]. We reported previously that family ownership of domestic pets during early life, including during the pre-natal period, was associated with lower odds of atopic asthma by mid-childhood compared with no pet ownership [7], confirming findings from previous studies [8,9,10]. We found that pet ownership, of rabbits and rodents, tended to be associated with higher odds of non-atopic asthma. These differential effects of pet ownership probably reflect heterogeneity within childhood asthma, which is recognized to be a complex condition characterised by distinct phenotypes [11], as suggested by analysis of trajectories of wheezing through childhood [12,13]. The aim of this study was to investigate whether pet ownership during pregnancy and early childhood was associated with wheezing from birth to age 7 years and with lung function at age 8 years in a UK population-based birth cohort
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