Effect of Exposure to Cats and Dogs on the Risk of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Controversies persist regarding whether exposure to cat or dog increases the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Objective This meta-analysis aimed to assess the associations between exposure to cats or dogs and the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Methods A systematic review was performed to identify case-control and cohort studies before May 2019, evaluating the association between exposure to cats and dogs and the risk of asthma and rhinitis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The odds ratios (ORs) and risk ratios (RRs) were pooled for case-control and cohort studies, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed on prespecified study-level characteristics. Results The meta-analysis of 34 cohort studies showed a protective role of exposure to cats [RR: 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77–0.99] or dogs (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73–0.97) in the development of asthma. The subgroup analysis of birth cohort (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56–0.93) and children population (RR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70–0.96) also suggested a favorable role of exposure to dogs in the development of asthma. Pooled evidence from 13 case-control studies indicated no significant impact of cats (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 0.39–2.94) and dogs (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.92–1.52) on the development of asthma. A pooled analysis of five cohort studies showed a favorable effect of exposure to cats (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.33–0.86) or dogs (RR: 0.68, 95% CI 0.44–0.90) on the development of allergic rhinitis. Conclusion The findings indicated a protective effect of exposure to cats and dogs, especially ownership, on the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Associations of early-life pet ownership with asthma and allergic sensitization: A meta-analysis of more than 77,000 children from the EU Child Cohort Network

“…The picture from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of published aggregate cohort data examining associations of pet ownership with asthma is less clear; such studies have reported null or weak and inconsistent associations, with substantial betweenstudy heterogeneity. 29,66,67 The current meta-analysis adds to the current body of knowledge by demonstrating a lack of association regardless of number of pets owned and with lung function, but potentially a small protective effect in the absence of sensitization and harmful effect in the presence of sensitization.…”

Association between early bronchiolitis and the development of childhood asthma: a meta-analysis

“…There is the possibility of reverse causality, including the possibility that there may be misdiagnosis of bronchiolitis that was actually asthma, and equally possible that later asthma is also misdiagnosed. (7) The study by Lin H-W and Lin S-C 34 has also shown that infants with bronchiolitis are at increased risk for developing asthma. Excluding this study for statistical reason would not change the overall conclusions but would change the pooled risk estimates.…”

“…Exposure to smoke, 4 male gender, atopic dermatitis, family history of asthma, history of wheezing and serum IgE level ≥60 kU/L or having specific IgE are found to be positively associated with developing asthma. 5 Breastfeeding 6 and exposure to cats and dogs 7 seem to play protective roles in the development of asthma. However, the associations between high adherence of the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and childhood 8 and swing attendance during childhood 9 with asthma are still unclear.…”

Pollen Food Allergy Syndrome in Allergic March

“…In addition, it is interesting that sensitization to Fel d 1, but not to Can f 1, was positively associated with PFAS development. Some studies have shown that dog ownership, but not cat ownership, is negatively associated with the occurrence of allergic comorbidities [25,26]. This suggests that the sensitization of dog-derived allergens could have a preventive effect on subsequent PFAS development, although further detailed studies are required.…”