According to a new study and a stand-alone analysis published in the American Heart magazine, Cycles: Cardiovascular Quality and Prognosis, dog ownership may be associated with longer life and better cardiovascular endings, especially for heart attack and stroke survivors living alone.
“The results of these two well-functioning research and analysis are based on previous research and the conclusions of the 2013 American Heart Association's scientific statement “Petal Ownership and Cardiovascular Risks” that dog ownership is associated with reduced factors leading to heart risk and cardiovascular events.” Dr. Glenn N. Levine, Chair of the American Heart Association's Scientific Statement Writing Group on Patient Ownership, stated. “In addition, the two studies provide high-quality data on dog ownership related to the reduction of heart and all-caused mortality. Although these non-random studies cannot `prove' adoption or the possession of dogs directly lead to a reduction in mortality, these powerful findings must at least imply this.”
Given previous studies on how social isolation and lack of physical exercise negatively affect patients, researchers in both research and analysis have sought to determine how dog ownership affects health outcomes. Previous studies have shown that the possession of dogs reduces social isolation, improves physical activity and even lowers blood pressure - leading researchers to believe that the owners of dogs may have a better end to cardiovascular disease than those without dogs.
Ownership and survival of dogs after major cardiovascular events
Researchers in the study compared the health outcomes of dog owners and non-owners with heart attacks or strokes using health data from the Swedish National Patient Register. The patients studied were residents of Sweden, aged 40-85, who experienced a heart attack or an ischaemic stroke from 2001-2012.
Compared to people without dogs, researchers found that for dog owners:
The risk of death for heart attack patients living alone after hospitalization has been reduced by 33 per cent and for patients living with their partners or children by 15 per cent.
The risk of death for strokes living alone after hospitalization is 27 per cent lower than for patients with peers or children and 12 per cent lower.
In this study, nearly 182,000 people were recorded as suffering from heart disease, nearly 6 per cent of whom were dog owners, and nearly 155,000 people with an ischaemic stroke, nearly 5 per cent of whom were dog owners. The ownership of dogs is confirmed by data from the Swedish Agricultural Council (which has compulsory registration of dog ownership since 2001) and the Swedish Dog Club (which has been registered since 1889).
The low risk of death associated with dog ownership can be explained by increased physical activity and reduced depression and loneliness, both of which were related to dog ownership in previous studies.
The researchers reviewed data on more than 3.8 million patients in 10 independent studies and conducted comprehensive analytical studies. Of the 10 studies reviewed, 9 compared all-caused mortality results for the owner and non-owner, and 4 compared cardiovascular results for the owner and non-owner.
Researchers have found that dogs have experienced the following compared to non-owners:
24 per cent reduction in mortality;
(b) Reduction of the death rate from heart attack by 65 per cent; and
Due to cardiovascular problems, the mortality rate was reduced by 31 per cent.
Dr. Caroline Kramer, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, and an endocrinologist and clinical scientist at the University of Toronto, said: “In previous reports, dog farming was related to increased physical exercise, reduced blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels.” As part of the Sinai Hills Health System, it is located at the Sinai Diabetes Leadership Centre in Mount Sinai Hospital. “Therefore, some people believe that the lives of dogs are longer and that the risk of cardiovascular death is lower.”
Studies considered qualified for analysis include those among adults over 18 years of age, derived from raw forward-looking data, assessing dog ownership at the beginning of the study and reporting on all-cause or cardiovascular mortality among patients. If the study is retrospective, it does not provide an absolute number of incidents and reports non-lethal cardiovascular events.
“Our findings show that dogs are associated with longer lives. Our analysis does not take into account a mix of factors, such as better fitness or a healthier overall lifestyle that may be associated with dog raising. However, the result is very positive that the next step in the theme “Claimer” will be an intervention study to assess the cardiovascular endings of dog adoption and the social and psychological benefits of dog ownership. As my own dog owner, I can say that the number of people using Romeo has increased my daily footsteps and physical exercise, and he has filled my daily work with joy and unconditional love.”