Dog lovers listen up: your risk of dying from all causes is significantly lowered by having a furry friend.
In a review published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes in 2019, researchers analyzed 10 studies from 1950 to May 2019 to evaluate the link between dog ownership and all-cause mortality. After reviewing the data of over 3.8 million people with a mean follow-up time of 10 years, the researchers found that dog ownership was associated with a 24% risk reduction for all causes of mortality compared to non-owners.
Moreover, when focusing on deaths resulting from heart-related illnesses and diseases, the analysis showed a 31% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death.
These results were echoed by another study published in the same journal, wherein it found that dog owners also had a lower risk of death after being hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction.
Myocardial infarction, also known as heart attack, happens when the heart muscle begins to stop from not getting enough blood flow, the Cleveland Clinic noted. According to the National Library of Medicine, it is one of the leading causes of death in the world.
A follow-up study in 2020, which included a calculation of adjusted hazard ratios, found that while the risk reduction was not as high as the initial results, a 7% reduction in all-cause mortality risk could be concluded.
As of 2024, 65.1 million US households own a dog, Forbes noted. About 38% of dog owners either rescued their pets or adopted them from a shelter.
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