Impact of pets as nonpharmacological antihypertensive maneuver in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Background: Nearly half of the population has elevated blood pressure in industrialized world.Various lifestyle changes were described as non- pharmacological maneuvers in controlling hypertension. Aim: We planned this study to evaluate the impact of pets as a non- pharmacological antihypertensive maneuver in hypertensive patients. Materials and Method: A total of 5042 hypertensive patients were participated a validated and self applied questionnaire and inquiring current status about having a pet. Results: A total 562 patients consisting of dog owners, cat owners and farm animal owners were enrolled in this study. No-pet owners had mean systolic blood pressure( SBP)- 143. 9 mmHg(141. 3 mmHg – 145. 1 mmHg) and mean diastolic blood pressure( DBP)- 77. 6 mmHg(76. 5 mmHg– 78. 5 mmHg). Cat owners were 339 patients( 6. 05%) had mean SBP- 132. 8 mmHg( 130. 5 mmHg– 135. 3 mmHg) and mean DBP- 74. 7 mmHg( 74. 8 mmHg– 75. 3 mmHg). Dog owners were 158 patients( 2. 82%) had mean SBP- 139. 5 mmHg( 138. 1 mmHg– 141. 2 mmHg) and mean DBP- 77. 2 mmHg( 76. 3 mmHg– 78. 2 mmHg). And farm animal owners were 65 patients ( 1. 1%) had mean SBP- 133. 6 mmHg( 135. 4 mmHg– 139. 8 mmHg ) and mean DBP- 73. 2 mmHg( 74. 2 mmHg– 76. 2 mmHg). Male sex( odds ratio [OR], 1. 17, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1. 07 - 1. 28, P = 0. 002 ), farm animal ownership( OR, 1. 08, 95% CI, 1. 06 -1. 11, P = 0. 003) and aging ( OR, 1. 23, 95% CI, 1. 27 -1. 38, P