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Association between pet ownership and cardiovascular risks and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

El-Qushayri, Amr Ehab; Kamel, Ahmed Mostafa Ahmed; Faraj, Hazem Abdelkarem; Vuong, Nguyen Lam; Diab, Omar Mohammad; Istanbuly, Sedralmontaha; Elshafei, Talal A.; Makram, Omar Mohamed; Sattar, Zeeshan; Istanbuly, Obaida; Mukit, Shekh Abdullah al; Elfaituri, Muhammed Khaled; Low, Soon Khai; Huy, Nguyen Tien

Authors

Amr Ehab El-Qushayri

Ahmed Mostafa Ahmed Kamel

Hazem Abdelkarem Faraj

Nguyen Lam Vuong

Omar Mohammad Diab

Sedralmontaha Istanbuly

Talal A. Elshafei

Omar Mohamed Makram

Zeeshan Sattar

Obaida Istanbuly

Shekh Abdullah al Mukit

Muhammed Khaled Elfaituri

Soon Khai Low

Nguyen Tien Huy



Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the association between pet ownership and cardiovascular risk factors and mortality. Electronic search was conducted through nine databases including PubMed for relevant publications reporting cardiovascular events and mortality among pet owners. Meta-analysis was used to pool the results. Of a total of 2818 reports screened, 26 studies were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. Higher survival rate was observed in the pet owners group after pooling nonadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular mortality at 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62–0.86] and 0.81 (0.68–0.97), respectively. A similar trend was observed for the pooled nonadjusted hazard ratio for overall mortality 0.73 (0.62–0.87) but not the adjusted hazard ratio 0.40 (0.04–3.78). Cat owners have a reduction in cardiovascular mortality but not overall mortality after pooling the adjusted hazard ratio 0.79 (0.63–0.99) and 1.04 (0.90–1.21), respectively. However, no significant association between dog owners and survival rate was observed for overall and cardiovascular-specific mortality. Pet owners had significantly lower heart rate (mean difference 95% CI: −2.32 (−3.07 to −1.57), mean arterial pressure −2.60 (−4.25 to −0.95) and SBP −1.69 (−3.06 to −0.31) but not DBP −0.23 (−1.05 to 0.60). No significant difference was observed between pet owners and nonpet owners in prevalence of hypertension. Our study draws attention to the beneficial effects of the human--pet bond; therefore, we recommend pet acquisition for better cardiovascular outcomes after controlling for zoonotics and pet-induced allergies.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 1, 2019
Publication Date 2020-05
Deposit Date Jun 20, 2023
Journal Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine
Print ISSN 1558-2027
Publisher Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 21
Issue 5
Pages 359-367
DOI https://doi.org/10.2459/jcm.0000000000000920
Keywords Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine; General Medicine