Presence and timing of cat ownership by age 18 and the effect on atopy and asthma at age 28

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2003.10.008

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Volume 113, Issue 3, March 2004, Pages 433-438

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2003.10.008 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

Asthma and allergic sensitization to cats frequently coexist, although recent studies show less atopic disease among people who had pets in infancy. However, no long-term evaluations have been performed thus far.

Objective

We sought to evaluate the relationship between cat ownership at different age periods (<18, >18, and both periods and atopic disease at age 28.

Methods

Australian school children aged 8 to 10 years were recruited in 1982 and participated in follow-up surveys until 2002. Cat ownership was defined by surveys in 1992 and 2002 as having a cat before age 18 only, after age 18 only, or in both periods of life. Health outcomes were defined at a mean age of 28.5 years.

Results

Complete data were available for 224 subjects, 50 of whom had a cat before 18 years of age only, 14 after age 18 only, and 70 in both periods. Compared with 90 subjects that never had a cat, having a cat before age 18 protected against atopy to outdoor allergens, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to histamine, current wheeze, and current asthma (P < .05). In contrast, subjects who acquired their first cat after age 18 showed a trend toward higher prevalence rates for asthma symptoms and AHR (P > .10).

Conclusions

Having had a cat before 18 years of age protects against adult asthma and atopy.

Section snippets

Design

A random sample of third and fourth grade school children living in the coastal town of Belmont, New South Wales, Australia, was recruited in 1982 (N = 716, response rate 87%). Every other year the children were invited for a follow-up study until 1994, whereafter subsequent follow-up surveys were conducted in 1997 and 2002. All surveys were undertaken in the winter season (July through September). The Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Sydney approved the protocols for these

Results

The final study population was composed of 224 subjects with complete data for cat ownership before and after 18 years of age (1992) and for health outcomes measured in 2002. At age 18 (1992 survey), 120 subjects (54%) ever had a cat, and 62 (52%) of these still did. Introduction of a cat in the household between age 18 (1992) and age 28 (2002) occurred for 22 subjects. Eight of them also had had a cat before age 18, and thus 14 subjects acquired their first cat after 1992. Considering the

Discussion

This follow-up study from childhood until adulthood shows that having a cat before 18 years of age reduces the risk of having asthma symptoms and probably also protects against allergic sensitization in adulthood. Our study is novel in including data from childhood until adulthood, and the design of the study allowed us to evaluate a number of atopic outcomes and consider the role of confounders in more detail.

The prevalence of atopy and asthma at age 28 was high in this population.

Acknowledgements

We thank Elena Belousova for organizing the data set.

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^☆: Supported by Community Health and Tuberculosis Australia, Allen+Hansburys, AstraZeneca, NSW Health, Asthma NSW, NHMRC, and University of Sydney. Gea de Meer was supported by a research fellowship of the Netherlands Asthma Foundation, and the Utrecht University.

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Environmental and Occupational DisordersPresence and timing of cat ownership by age 18 and the effect on atopy and asthma at age 28☆

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

Design

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Lancet

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Lancet

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Sensitivity to common allergens: relation to respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyper-responsiveness in children from three different climatic areas of Australia

Clinical Experimental Allergy

Sensitization to inhalant allergens in wheezing infants is predictive of the development of infantile asthma

Allergy

Prevalence of positive skin prick tests, allergic asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis in teenagers in northern Sweden

Allergy

Comparative degree and type of sensitization to common indoor and outdoor allergens in subjects with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma

Clin Exp Allergy

Predictors of asthma severity in the elderly: results of a community survey in Northeast England

J Asthma

NAC Mancester Asthma and Allergy Study (NACMAAS): risk factors for asthma and allergic disorders in adults

Clin Exp Allergy

The risk of sensitivity to grass pollen, house dust mite and cat dander in the development of childhood asthma

Clin Exp Allergy

Environmental and Occupational Disorders
Presence and timing of cat ownership by age 18 and the effect on atopy and asthma at age 28☆

NAC Mancester Asthma and Allergy Study (^NACMAAS): risk factors for asthma and allergic disorders in adults