Association of pet exposure with allergic disease incidence and all-cause mortality: Nhanse database analysis

Objective: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the association between pet exposure with the incidence of allergic disease and all-cause mortality. Methods: The primary results of our study were the incidence of allergic diseases and all-cause mortality. The relevant data of 2005-2006 in Nhanse database were used, including clinical basic information, serum index, disease information and death information, etc. Association between pets and allergic disease was assessed by a logistic regression model. Association of pet exposure with all-cause mortality was assessed using a Cox proportional risk model. Results: A total of 4082 subjects aged 20 years or older were enrolled in this study, of which 1776 (43.5%) had contact with pets and 2306 (56.5%) had no contact with pets. The incidence of allergic rhinitis, hay fever, asthma and eczema in pet contact group was significantly higher than that in non-pet contact group. A logistic regression model showed that exposure to cats was associated with hay fever (OR:1.419; 95%CI 1.037,1.942), allergic rhinitis (OR:1.300; 95%CI 1.046,1.616) were significantly associated with a higher incidence. Exposure to dogs and asthma (OR:1.361; 95%CI 1.085, 1.707), eczema (OR:1.402; 95%CI 1.039,1.891) were significantly associated with a higher incidence. According to models of all-cause mortality, owning a cat or owning two types of pets (cat, dog) is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, especially among male. In female, only a reduction in all-cause mortality was observed with cat ownership. Conclusions: In American adults, pet ownership, especially dog and cat exposure, may increase the risks of allergic diseases but decrease the risk of all-cause mortality.