Does a dog reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases?

This Swedish study is by far the largest and most thorough attempt to find a connection between dog keeping and health.

A second sub -group located was formed from participants from the "Screening Across the Lifespan Twin Study" (Salt), a partial study by the Swedish Twin Register (STR). Salt, a longitudinal study, began in 1958 and recorded most of the twins born in Sweden since 1886. All Salt participants who answered by telephone interviews between 1998 and 2002 and were between 42 and 80 years old in 2001 were eligible for the study analysis (n = 41,039).

dog seat

Sweden demands that all dogs in the country have a clear identifier (tattoo or chip) registered with the agricultural authority. In addition, the Swedish Kennel Club registers all dogs with a certified family tree. About 83 % of the dogs in Sweden are listed in one of these registers. For the purposes of this study, dog seat was defined as the dog, which is registered in one or both of these registers either for the owner or a partner. Information about dog breeds come from these registers.

target parameter

public registers and medical files provided data on the death and cause of death of the human participants. Four accidental causes of death were recorded: 1) Acute myocardial infarction; 2) heart failure; 3) Ischemic stroke; and 4) hemorrhagic stroke.

important knowledge

In both one-person and multi-person households, the possession of dogs was associated with a significantly lower overall mortality and mortality by cardiovascular diseases.

The Hazard Ratios (HRS) for the overall risk is 0.67 for one-person households (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.65–0.69) and 0.89 for multi-person households (95 %-KI: 0.87–0.91). For the death of cardiovascular causes, the HRS 0.64 for one-person households (95 %KI: 0.59–0.70) and 0.85 for multi-person households (95 %-KI: 0.81–0.90).

In one -person households, the possession of dogs was associated with cardiovascular results (HR composed: 0.92; 95 % AI: 0.89–0.94). The possession of hunting dogs was associated with the lowest CVD risk.

The possession of a mixed breed dog was associated with a higher CVD risk (HR: 1.13; 95 %-KI: 1.09–1.17). The HR for the overall mortality was <1 for all breed groups, with the main estimate with the lowest estimate (Mr.: 0.60; 95 % KI: 0.53-0.68) and mixed breed dogs with estimates on the closest to 1 (HR: 0.98); 95 % AI: 0.94–1.01).

The analysis of the data from the twin cohort showed no significant relationships between CVD and dog seat.

practice implications

cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide today. In Europe, (link away). Interventions that reduce the risk themselves by small percentages will still have a major impact. It is convinced that possession of a dog reduces the CVD risk by offering social and emotional support and increasing the physical activity of the owner. The possession of dogs, especially for single and older adults, can reduce the feeling of social isolation and depression. ^{1 It is easier to find friends if you have a dog, 2 and, no surprise, dog owners go for more than non-owners. A meta -analysis of 11 studies from 2011 confirmed this; 3 People not only go on foot after they have bought a dog, 4} they rain or seem and cannot be stopped by bad weather.

Earlier studies that have tried to demonstrate the benefits of dog keeping have reported less than consistent results. Some studies have reported that possession of cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and diabetes is associated.

A Norwegian prospective cohort study published in June 2017 showed no difference in the overall mortality of dog owners and non -owners. Dog owners In this study, no greater physical activity indicated than non -owners; Both groups stated just over 3 hours a week. Owners had practically the same risk of death as non-owners (HR: 1.00; 95 % KI: 0.91-1.09). ^{8 Note that the number of participants in this Norwegian study was 28,746; This Swedish study comprised almost 4 million participants and was therefore 133 times as large.}

3 further studies were carried out, which used data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Nhanes), all relatively small, each comprised between 4,000 and 6,000 dog owners; These studies also reported no significant effects of the dog seat on the overall mortality.

This Swedish study is by far the largest and most thorough attempt to find a connection between dog keeping and cardiovascular diseases. Due to its scope and the greater accuracy of continuation by state registers, this study enables less belief to provide less faith to show the advantages of dog keeping. Health register enabled the evaluation of both cardiovascular and overall mortality. The large size of this Swedish study co -site also made it possible for the subgroup analysis to achieve significance; For example, the analysis of data according to the household type and, interestingly, to dog breed. The different result depending on the dog breed is fascinating and can explain earlier errors when recognizing the use if dog types have not been taken into account. If some types of dog actually increase the risk while others reduce the risk, studies that analyze the effects of the possession of a dog regardless of the breed are not used.

Although this paper does not show any causality, it is still difficult to ignore the difference in the HR between dog types. Based on these results, one could be forced to discourage dogs that are associated with a higher risk in favor of dogs associated with a lower risk of death.

The effects on the risk of illness seem to vary depending on the breed of dogs. For example, the possession of a retriever was associated with a 10%acceptance of the CVD [adj 0.90 (0.87–0.94)] and a 26 percent decrease in overall mortality [0.74 (0.71–0.77)]] On the other hand, the possession of a mixed breed dog was associated with a 13 % increased risk of cardiovascular diseases [1.13 (1.09–1.17)] and only a decrease in overall mortality by 2 % [0.98 (0.94–1.01)]]. On average, however, the possession of dogs was associated with a decline in cardiovascular mortality by 23 % [0.77 (0.73–0.80)] and a decline in total mortality by 20 % [0.80 (0.79–0.82)]

These tables convey an interesting image of the data:

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