In 2001, researchers in Sweden surveyed more than 3.4 million individuals with no history of heart disease. The goal was to determine whether dog owners had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death than those without dogs.

"The results were interesting, with the ownership of dogs as a protective factor for royal families, and perhaps dogs forming an important member of the family," said Mwenya Mubanga, the lead author of the study and a PhD student in Uppsala University's Department of Medical Sciences and Laboratory Life Sciences. Has a single dog in the family whose risk of death is reduced by 33% and the risk of cardiovascular disease by 11% compared to those who do not have a dog.

In Sweden, each person has their own identification number. Every visit to the hospital has records in the national database where researchers can access and access them. Ownership of the dogs is included in these records. The researchers examined a link between dog ownership and diagnosis of CVD or pathogens Death is general.

"This type of epidemiological study looks at the links of high population densities, but it does not provide answers on how and whether dogs are able to protect against diseases," says Tuvol Tov Fall, associate professor of epidemiology at Uppsala's Department of Medical Sciences and Laboratory Life Sciences. Cardiovascular disease.

We generally know that owners of dogs have a high physical activity, and this may be an explanation of the observed results.
Other possible explanations include the effect of dogs on microorganisms that colonize the human tissue of the owner. "

"There may be differences between dog owners and non-owners even before they buy them, which can influence our results. People who choose to buy a dog tend to be more active and healthier. Our results are inclusive of all Swedes and perhaps other Europeans with a culture similar to our culture With regard to the possession of dogs ».