Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: McNicholas J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC1289326 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues.
McNicholas June J Gilbey Andrew A Rennie Ann A Ahmedzai Sam S Dono Jo-Ann JA Ormerod Elizabeth E
BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20051101 7527
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Project description:The child restraint legislation in Malaysia becomes mandatory from 1 January 2020. Prior to commencement of the rule, a survey showed that only 36% of Malaysian parents were aware of the importance of a child restraint system (CRS) and only 27% usage was reported during travel. The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety report showed that children transported in private vehicles were the leading groups of casualties among children aged 1 to 4 years old (43.8%) and 5 to 9 years old (30.2%), respectively. We performed a narrative review using the PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar databases using keywords such as child restraint system, unrestrained injuries, Malaysia and epidemiology. The objectives of this review were: (1) to determine the prevalence on the use of CRS in Malaysia, (2) to evaluate the injuries related to unrestrained children and (3) to show the nation's preparation towards implementation of the child restraint law. Six papers on prevalence, one paper on injury and six mainstream newspaper were included in this study. The prevalence of a CRS use was shown between 5% to 41.8%. In relation to injury, the only publication from this country showed that among 19 children involved in a car crash, five (26.3%) children had non-craniomaxillofacial (CMF) injuries, ten (52.6%) with CMF injuries only, two (10.5%) with both CMF and non-CMF injuries and two (10.5%) without any injury. Overall, the Injury Severity Score (ISS) range was between 0 to 13 (median, 1.00; interquartile range, 1). Preparation to comply with the best practice of the child restraint law is still ongoing, especially those addressing the issues related to the low-income parents in the country. Due to scarcity of publication and data on the CRS use and injuries related to its non-usage, it is advocated that parallel with the implementation legislation, vigorous forms of public education as well as good data management must be performed and monitored regularly by the road safety authority in this country.
| S-EPMC7142530 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPet ownership and cancer are both highly prevalent in the United States. Evidence suggests that associations may exist between this potentially modifiable factor and cancer prevention, though studies are sparse. The present report examined whether pet ownership (dog, cat, or bird) is associated with lower risk for total cancer and site-specific obesity-related cancers.MethodsThis was a prospective analysis of 123,560 participants (20,981 dog owners; 19,288 cat owners; 1,338 bird owners; and 81,953 non-pet owners) enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative observational study and clinical trials. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HR and 95% confidence intervals for the association between pet ownership and cancer, adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsThere were no significant relationships between ownership of a dog, cat, or bird and incidence of cancer overall. When site-specific cancers were examined, no associations were observed after adjustment for multiple comparisons.ConclusionPet ownership had no association with overall cancer incidence.ImpactThis is the first large epidemiologic study to date to explore relationships between pet ownership and cancer risk, as well as associated risks for individual cancer types. This study requires replication in other sizable, diverse cohorts. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(9); 1311-6. ©2016 AACR.
| S-EPMC5010503 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Bone health in prostate cancer patients represents a prerequisite for acceptable quality of life and optimal outcome of this disease. The major threat for bone health in prostate cancer displays cancer treatment induced bone loss as well as the development of bone metastases. In recent years, several new pharmaceuticals targeting bone metabolism such as denosumab or androgen pathway targeting drugs (abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide) have been approved for the treatment of progressive disease aiming to interrupt the vicious circle of bone metastasis and aberrant bone resorption. This development raised the awareness of the pivotal role of bone health in prostate cancer and introduced (symptomatic) skeletal related events as an important end point in recent clinical trials. Bone targeted drugs have become standard of care in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer, their role in metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer has been discussed controversely. In oligometastatic prostate cancer patients several promising approaches in metastasis directed therapy, including conventional surgery, stereotactic ablative radiation and image-guided single-fraction robotic stereotactic radiosurgery (CyberKnife®) were launched but are not in routine clinical use until now caused by sparse clinical evidence.
| S-EPMC7076314 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Obesity is a major risk factor for lifestyle-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Several studies have investigated the association between pet ownership and obesity, but the findings have been inconsistent. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis assessed the association between pet ownership and obesity. Using PubMed and Scopus, we overviewed the literature published until December 2019 and selected pertinent data for meta-analysis. Two independent reviewers extracted the data. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for obesity were calculated using the random-effects model with inverse-variance weighting. The 21 included articles were cross-sectional studies. Five publications (nine analyses) that reported adjusted RRs for BMI ≥ 25 were included in the meta-analysis. No significant association existed between pet ownership and obesity (pooled RR = 1.038; 95% CI, 0.922-1.167; I2 = 51.8%). After stratification by age group (children vs. adults), no significant association was detected (pooled RR = 0.844; 95% CI, 0.604-1.179; I2 = 64.1% vs. pooled RR = 1.099; 95% CI, 0.997-1.212; I2 = 25.2%). Similarly, no significant association was observed between dog ownership and obesity, indicating no association between pet ownership and obesity. However, no infer causation can be reported because all studies included in this meta-analysis were cross-sectional. Therefore, further prospective studies are needed.
| S-EPMC7277191 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The human gut microbiome has a great deal of interpersonal variation due to both endogenous and exogenous factors, like household pet exposure. To examine the relationship between having a pet in the home and the composition and diversity of the adult gut microbiome, we conducted a case-control study nested in a larger, statewide study, the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin. Stool samples were collected from 332 participants from unique households and analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq. One hundred and seventy-eight participants had some type of pet in the home with dogs and cats being the most prevalent. We observed no difference in alpha and beta diversity between those with and without pets, though seven OTUs were significantly more abundant in those without pets compared to those with pets, and four were significantly more abundant in those with pets. When stratifying by age, seven of these remained significant. These results suggest that pet ownership is associated with differences in the human gut microbiota. Further research is needed to better characterize the effect of pet ownership on the human gut microbiome.
| S-EPMC7058978 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundConnections between the effects of pet ownership and exercise on mental health have previously been demonstrated in different populations. However, little is known about the potential effects of pet ownership and exercise on the mental health of veterinary professionals. Since these individuals have a high prevalence of poor mental health and suicide, while they deal with pets professionally, we investigated the impact of pet ownership, exercise and different types of pet ownership on this demographic group.MethodVeterinary professionals over 18 years old answered an online questionnaire about pet ownership, exercise, mental health (including anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation) and mental health correlates. Regression models were used to identify variables significantly related to mental health outcomes.ResultsOf 1087 respondents, pet owners were more depressed than non-owners, while anxiety or suicidal ideation was not associated with pet ownership. Dog and horse owners were psychologically healthier (less anxiety, less suicidal ideation) than non-owners of these species. Veterinary professionals who ran regularly had lower anxiety and depression. Those who walked regularly and spent less time sitting experienced fewer depression symptoms.ConclusionsRunning, walking and avoiding prolonged sitting might protect the mental health of veterinary professionals. The type of pet owned may be an important factor in the relationship between pet ownership and mental health; however, generally, pet ownership was associated with worse mental health outcomes in this demographic group. Future studies should determine the causal nature of these relationships.
| S-EPMC10206414 | biostudies-literature
Project description:This study used the nationally representative prospective study of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey cohort to examine the association of pet ownership (dog, cat, bird, fish, and others) with the risk of all-cause mortality using propensity score matching based on a wide range of factors. The study sample included 15,735 participants who completed the questionnaire on pet ownership in 2018. The HILDA survey sample was matched to the National Death Index through 2022 to assess death during the follow-up period. Statistical analysis was weighted by the inverse of the propensity score in the generalized estimating equation. During the 4-year follow-up period, 377 of 15,735 (2.4%) participants died. The odds ratios (ORs) for all-cause mortality were 0.77 (95%CI: 0.59-0.99) for dog owners compared to non-pet owners after controlling for related socio-demographic, physical, psychological, and social factors. The Sobel test showed a partial mediating effect of physical activity level on the relationship between dog ownership and all-cause mortality. Ownership of cats, birds, fish, and others showed no clear association with mortality, despite owners having similar socio-demographics characteristics to dog owners. Companionship and exercise of a pet dog may be recommended as a component of health promotion policy, and may have an important role to play in promoting health aging.
| S-EPMC11324118 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe promise of digital health is principally dependent on the ability to electronically capture data that can be analyzed to improve decision-making. However, the ability to effectively harness data has proven elusive, largely because of the quality of the data captured. Despite the importance of data quality (DQ), an agreed-upon DQ taxonomy evades literature. When consolidated frameworks are developed, the dimensions are often fragmented, without consideration of the interrelationships among the dimensions or their resultant impact.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to develop a consolidated digital health DQ dimension and outcome (DQ-DO) framework to provide insights into 3 research questions: What are the dimensions of digital health DQ? How are the dimensions of digital health DQ related? and What are the impacts of digital health DQ?MethodsFollowing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, a developmental systematic literature review was conducted of peer-reviewed literature focusing on digital health DQ in predominately hospital settings. A total of 227 relevant articles were retrieved and inductively analyzed to identify digital health DQ dimensions and outcomes. The inductive analysis was performed through open coding, constant comparison, and card sorting with subject matter experts to identify digital health DQ dimensions and digital health DQ outcomes. Subsequently, a computer-assisted analysis was performed and verified by DQ experts to identify the interrelationships among the DQ dimensions and relationships between DQ dimensions and outcomes. The analysis resulted in the development of the DQ-DO framework.ResultsThe digital health DQ-DO framework consists of 6 dimensions of DQ, namely accessibility, accuracy, completeness, consistency, contextual validity, and currency; interrelationships among the dimensions of digital health DQ, with consistency being the most influential dimension impacting all other digital health DQ dimensions; 5 digital health DQ outcomes, namely clinical, clinician, research-related, business process, and organizational outcomes; and relationships between the digital health DQ dimensions and DQ outcomes, with the consistency and accessibility dimensions impacting all DQ outcomes.ConclusionsThe DQ-DO framework developed in this study demonstrates the complexity of digital health DQ and the necessity for reducing digital health DQ issues. The framework further provides health care executives with holistic insights into DQ issues and resultant outcomes, which can help them prioritize which DQ-related problems to tackle first.
| S-EPMC10131725 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objectives: To examine associations between sustained ownership of a pet and cognitive outcomes among a national sample of U.S. adults. Methods: Weighted linear mixed models were estimated using the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2016, n = 1369) to compare repeated measures of cognitive function between respondents who endorsed owning a pet in a sustained manner (>5 years), versus those who owned a pet ≤5 years, and non-pet owners. Results: Respondents aged 65+ who owned a pet >5 years demonstrated higher composite cognitive scores, compared to non-pet owners (β = .76, p = .03). Sustained pet ownership was associated with higher immediate (β = .3, p = .02) and delayed (β = .4, p = .007) word recall scores. There were no significant differences in cognitive scores between pet owners and non-owners aged < 65. Discussion: Sustained ownership of a pet could mitigate cognitive disparities in older adults. Further studies are needed to examine potential causal pathways, including physical activity and stress buffering, versus selection effects.
| S-EPMC10280126 | biostudies-literature
Project description:PurposeInvestigate the relationship between pet ownership and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases up to August 2018. Eligible publications examining the association between pet ownership and all-cause and CV mortality (primary outcomes) and risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke (secondary outcomes) were included. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess the quality of the articles.ResultsWe included 12 studies, involving 488,986 participants (52.3% female, mean age 56.1 years), in our systematic review. The mean follow-up duration was 8.7 ± 6.3 years. Pet ownership had no association with adjusted all-cause mortality (odds ratio, OR = 1.01, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.94, 1.08], I2 = 76%), adjusted CV mortality (OR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.75, 1.00], I2 = 72%), or risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (OR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.72, 1.05], I2 = 73%), myocardial infarction (MI) (OR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.97, 1.01], I2 = 0%), or stroke (OR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.98, 1.01], I2 = 0%). However, subgroup analysis showed that pet ownership was associated with a lower adjusted CV mortality in the general population (OR = 0.93, 95% CI [0.86, 0.99], I2 = 27%) than in CVD patients. In patients with established CVD, pet ownership was associated with a lower adjusted CVD risk (OR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.60, 0.84], I2 = 0%).ConclusionPet ownership is not associated with adjusted all-cause or CV mortality, or risk of CVD, MI, or stroke, but it is associated with a lower adjusted CV mortality in the general population and a lower CVD risk in patients with established CVD.
| S-EPMC6499429 | biostudies-literature