Pet Ownership Increases the Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Asthma Severity in Children With Atopic Asthma

Exposure to pets can trigger symptoms in asthmatic children sensitized to pets. However, little is known about the association between pet ownership and asthma morbidity in children who are not sensitized to pets. We aimed to investigate the effect of pets on lung function, airway inflammation, and morbidity in children with asthma, and to determine whether the effect of exposure to pets vary based on pet sensitization status. A total of 975 asthmatic children, aged 5-15 years, were enrolled in the Korean Childhood Asthma Study. Pet ownership and asthma morbidity were evaluated by questionnaires or pediatrician evaluations. Pulmonary function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and atopic status were assessed. FeNO levels were significantly higher in children with pets than in those without pets. Pet ownership significantly increased FeNO levels in atopic asthmatic children, irrespective of pet sensitization status. In children sensitized to pets, the geometric mean was 46.6 (range of 1 standard deviation, 26.9-81.5) for those with pets vs. 27.2 (13.8-53.6) for those without pets (<i>P</i> < 0.001). In children without sensitization to pets, the geometric mean was 37.3 (15.0-53.6) for pet owners vs. 25.2 (12.9-49.2) for non-owners (<i>P</i> = 0.014). The multiple regression analysis also revealed that pet ownership was significantly associated with increased FeNO levels and asthma severity in atopic asthmatic children. Pet ownership increased the FeNO levels and asthma severity, regardless of pet sensitization status, in children with atopic asthma. Exposure to pets could increase airway inflammation and disease severity even in atopic asthmatic children who are not sensitized to pets.

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Publication Details

Journal
Allergy Asthma and Immunology Research
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2025.17.3.394
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Asthma and respiratory diseases
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.33

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article

Pet Ownership Increases the Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Asthma Severity in Children With Atopic Asthma

Meeyong Shin, Seong‐Ill Woo, Jinho Yu, Hyung Young Kim et al.
2 citations
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article

Pet Ownership Increases the Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Asthma Severity in Children With Atopic Asthma

Meeyong Shin, Seong‐Ill Woo, Jinho Yu, Hyung Young Kim, Youn Ho Shin, Kun Baek Song, Hwan Soo Kim, Hey‐Sung Baek, Hyeon‐Jong Yang, Gwang Cheon Jang, Eun Lee, Jin-Tack Kim, Eom Ji Choi, Woo Kyung Kim, Dong In Suh, Ju‐Hee Seo, Young Yoo, Ji‐Won Kwon, Dae Jin Song, Seung Won Lee, Jeong‐Hoon Kim, Ju Suk Lee, Dae Hyun Lim
article en
2 citations

Abstract

Exposure to pets can trigger symptoms in asthmatic children sensitized to pets. However, little is known about the association between pet ownership and asthma morbidity in children who are not sensitized to pets. We aimed to investigate the effect of pets on lung function, airway inflammation, and morbidity in children with asthma, and to determine whether the effect of exposure to pets vary based on pet sensitization status. A total of 975 asthmatic children, aged 5-15 years, were enrolled in the Korean Childhood Asthma Study. Pet ownership and asthma morbidity were evaluated by questionnaires or pediatrician evaluations. Pulmonary function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and atopic status were assessed. FeNO levels were significantly higher in children with pets than in those without pets. Pet ownership significantly increased FeNO levels in atopic asthmatic children, irrespective of pet sensitization status. In children sensitized to pets, the geometric mean was 46.6 (range of 1 standard deviation, 26.9-81.5) for those with pets vs. 27.2 (13.8-53.6) for those without pets (<i>P</i> < 0.001). In children without sensitization to pets, the geometric mean was 37.3 (15.0-53.6) for pet owners vs. 25.2 (12.9-49.2) for non-owners (<i>P</i> = 0.014). The multiple regression analysis also revealed that pet ownership was significantly associated with increased FeNO levels and asthma severity in atopic asthmatic children. Pet ownership increased the FeNO levels and asthma severity, regardless of pet sensitization status, in children with atopic asthma. Exposure to pets could increase airway inflammation and disease severity even in atopic asthmatic children who are not sensitized to pets.

Allergy Asthma and Immunology ResearchVol. 17(3)
Ulsan College (KR), Seoul National University (KR), Hallym University (KR), Changwon National University (KR), Gyeongsang National University (KR), Samsung (South Korea) (KR), Soonchunhyang University (KR), Korea University Medical Center (KR), Soonchunhyang University Hospital Seoul (KR), Asan Medical Center (KR), Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (KR), University of Ulsan (KR), Chonnam National University Hospital (KR), The Catholic University of Korea Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital (KR), Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital (KR), Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (KR), Inha University Hospital (KR), National Health Insurance Service (KR), Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital (KR), Chungbuk National University Hospital (KR), Dankook University Hospital (KR), Bucheon University (KR), Sungkyunkwan University (KR), Catholic University of Korea (KR)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Asthma and respiratory diseases
2.33
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