Prevalence of respiratory symptoms in 11-14 year old children with pets in Maltese homes

Abstract

The Respira study included standardized respiratory questionnaires and clinical exam of children aged 11-14 years. Aims: To identify associations between prevalence of respiratory symptoms and pet ownership amongst children aged 11-14 years in Malta Methods: 862 questionnaires were distributed to parents and analysed comparing prevalence (univariate) and using a binary logistic regression model. Results: Children with pets had a higher prevalence of lifetime wheeze (175/332; p=.04), and rhinitis past 12 months (n=153/354; p=.028) when compared to no pet ownership. Wheeze past 12 months (n=73/434; p=.086), lifetime rhinitis (n=168/339; p=.069) showed a similar trend, but failed to reach statistical significance. In a binary logistic model cat ownership, after correcting for gender, age, socio-economic status, indoor exposure to smoking, and bronchitis in the first year of life, showed an odds ratio of 1.55(95% CI 1.06-2.28 p=0.025) for wheeze in the last 12 months. Cat ownership was not a predictor for asthma treatment in 12 months, or a diagnosis of rhinitis. Owner ship of any pet, dog or bird failed to show any significant odds ratio wheeze in the last 12 months. Conclusion: Children with pets had a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, however in a multivariate model only cat ownership predicted wheeze in the last 12 months, while ownership of any pet, dog and bird ownership was not.