Pet ownership is associated with increased risk of non-atopic asthma and reduced risk of atopy in childhood: findings from a UK birth cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies have shown an inverse association of pet ownership with allergy but inconclusive findings for asthma.

Objective

To investigate whether pet ownership during pregnancy and childhood was associated with asthma and atopy at the age of 7 in a UK population-based birth cohort.

Methods

Data 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 the age of 7 with asthma, atopy (grass, house dust mite, and cat skin prick test) and atopic vs. non-atopic asthma at the age of 7 using logistic regression models adjusted for child's sex, maternal history of asthma/atopy, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and family adversity.

Results

A total of 3768 chil

SUBMITTER: Collin SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4280336 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature