Pre‐natal and post‐natal exposure to pet ownership and lung function in children: The Seven Northeastern Cities Study |
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| Authors: | L‐W Hu Z Qian S C Dharmage E Liu S W Howard M G Vaughn J Perret C C Lodge X‐W Zeng B‐Y Yang S‐L Xu C Zhang G‐H Dong |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sun Yat‐sen University, Guangzhou, China;2. Department of Epidemiology, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA;3. Allergy and Lung Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia;4. Department of Health Management & Policy, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA;5. School of Social Work, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA |
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| 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 (FEV1), 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 FEV1<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. |
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| Keywords: | children exposure gender difference lung function pets prevention |
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