Pre-natal and post-natal exposure to pet ownership and lung function in children: The Seven Northeastern Cities Study

Abstract

To evaluate the association between pre-natal and post-natal exposure to pet ownership and lung function in children, a cross-sectional study named Seven Northeastern Cities (SNEC) study was conducted. In this study, children's lung function including the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV ), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured by spirometers, and pet ownership situations were collected by questionnaire. Analyzed by multiple logistic regression and generalized linear modeling, we found that for all subjects, pet exposure in the first 2 years of life was significantly associated with lung function impairment of FVC<85% predicted (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.63). For current pet exposure, the increased odds of lung function impairment ranged from 35% (aOR=1.35; 95%CI: 1.12, 1.62) for FVC<85% predicted to 57% (aOR=1.57; 95%CI: 1.29, 1.93) for FEV <85% predicted. The in utero exposure was not related to lung function impairment. Compared with other pets, higher odds were observed among children with dogs. When stratified by gender, girls with current pet exposure were more likely to have lung function impairment than boys. It implies self-reported exposures to pets were negatively associated with lung function among the children under study.

Impact on lung function among children exposed to home new surface materials: The seven Northeastern Cities Study in China

“…Extant literature highlights that females are disproportionately affected by impaired lung function . This is also consistent with our finding that larger negative changes in lung function measurements is associated with home renovation exposure among girls than boys.…”

“…[23][24][25][26] Extant literature highlights that females are disproportionately affected by impaired lung function. 12,27,28 This is also consistent with our finding that larger negative changes in lung function measurements is associated with home renovation exposure among girls than boys. This may be due to the fact that females usually have smaller lung sizes and therefore have slightly greater airway reactivity than males when exposed to environmental factors, and this difference in pattern of airways response could be continued from fetal to adult life.…”

Dog Ownership in Early Life Increased the Risk of Nonatopic Asthma in Children

“…As for the mechanisms that increase the risk of asthma, and especially nonatopic asthma, dog ownership has been demonstrated to transport outdoor allergens indoors, promoting airway hypersensitivity and wheezing by amplifying lipopolysaccharide/toll-like receptor signals in macrophage-like cells [32]. In this analysis, we also showed that dog ownership was associated with an increased risk of a percent-predicted FEV 1 <80% at age 7, which may be related to an increased risk of asthma diagnosis in children with lower lung function [33,34]. These findings should be a step toward individual clinical advice on raising dogs in children at the highest risk of asthma.…”

The relationship of early-life household air pollution with childhood asthma and lung function

“…Inverse association with any history of wheeze, mild wheeze and severe wheeze GAFFIN (2012) [74] Cat exposure at 6 months 3 years No association was found on asthma COLLIN (2015) [75] Cat/dog ownership during pregnancy (up to 28 weeks' gestation), 8 months, 2, 3, 4 and 7 years 6 months to 7 years for wheezing phenotypes 8 years for lung function Cat exposure was inversely associated with wheezing No association was found on lung function HU (2017) [76] Any pet ownership in utero, and during the first 2 years early-life exposure may have effects on respiratory health that are different from the effects exposures at other times, as it is an important window for respiratory system development. The PIAMA cohort found that early-life cat exposure was associated with reduced FVC growth in adolescence between 12 and 16 years, but there was no significant influence on MeDALL protocol-defined asthma at 17 years, while other timings of exposure during childhood had no impacts on asthma and lung function in adolescence [49,58].…”

“…The PIAMA cohort found that early-life cat exposure was associated with reduced FVC growth in adolescence between 12 and 16 years, but there was no significant influence on MeDALL protocol-defined asthma at 17 years, while other timings of exposure during childhood had no impacts on asthma and lung function in adolescence [ 49 , 58 ]. A cohort study of 7326 school-aged children in China found that pet exposure in the first 2 years of life was associated with reduced FVC [ 76 ]. Adverse associations were more likely to be reported in cross-sectional studies or nonbirth cohorts [ 76 , 77 ].…”