Background
Dog guardianship (DG) is a novel behavioral preventive intervention against arterial hypertension (AH) based on increased opportunities for physical activity, positive neuroendocrine response to stress and improved social capital. Current biomedical mindset in Bulgaria, however, is mostly focused on treatment rather than prevention through such unconventional approaches.
Aim
This study aimed to determine whether DG was associated with lower odds of prevalent AH.
Material and methods
A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study among 513 residents of Plovdiv, Bulgaria was conducted. Data on self-reported doctor-diagnosis with AH, duration of lifetime dog guardianship (LDG) and confounding individual and environmental factors were available. A multivariate logistic regression model was set up to explore the odds of AH due to LDG; it was followed by sensitivity analyses to detect possible effect modification by individual differences.
Results
We found 28.8% (95% CI: 2.6%, 47.9%) lower odds of AH per 8 years of LDG. This beneficial effect was more pronounced in males, people without family history of AH, who had never smoked, with lower socio-economic status, not obese and aged < 55 years.
Conclusion
Longer DG during one`s lifetime was associated with significantly lower odds of prevalent AH. Bulgarian public health exerts should explore it as an alternative preventive intervention for AH and contribute to fostering social acceptance of companion animals as means to enhance people`s health.
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