Is dog ownership associated with mortality? A nationwide registry study

Ivalu Katajavaara Sørensen, Pernille Envold Bidstrup, Naja Hulvej Rod, Tjorben Rühling, Christoffer Johansen

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3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We examined the association between dog ownership and mortality and whether the association depends on having a spouse in a population-based registry study. All Danish citizens over age 18 years who died in 2015 (N=45 864) were matched to five people who remained alive in 2015 (N=229 320). The total sample were linked to a mandatory nationwide register of dog ownership. Dog ownership was associated with slightly 8% lower all-cause mortality. The association was confined to people without a spouse (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.82-0.91), while the association was weaker in people with a spouse (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.93-1.03).

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Public Health
Volume28
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)1169-1171
Number of pages4
ISSN1101-1262
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

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