title: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is associated with pet ownership in cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Late diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is associated with significant lung function decline and morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF). The association of ABPA and domestic pet ownership in patients with CF has not been elucidated yet. Our objective was to determine the association of ABPA with pet ownership in patients with CF.
  
  
  
  Clinical and microbiological data from certified local patient registry were analyzed for 109 patients with CF aged 1-64 years: 55 pet owner and 54 non-pet owners. The primary outcome of the retrospective observational study was the occurrence of ABPA in pet owners and non-pet owners with CF. The free statistical software R was utilized to investigate logistic regression models for association factors.
  
  
  
  Of the 109 patients included in the study, 61 (56%) were female. The mean age of the total group was 25.4 ± 13.2 years. Adjusted analysis revealed that ABPA (OR 5.0227, 95% CI: 1.182-21.340, p = 0.029) was associated with pet ownership in patients with CF. Furthermore, ABPA in pet owners with CF was associated with an increased number of exacerbations (OR 6.446, 95% CI: 1.057-39.328, p = 0.043). Other outcomes did not significantly differ.
  
  
  
  Owning a pet was associated with ABPA in patients with CF. Future prospective multicenter longitudinal studies are needed to investigate chronological causality between pet ownership, ABPA development, and pulmonary exacerbations and to determine whether these estimates are generalizable for ABPA susceptible patients beyond CF (asthma, bronchiectasis).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis Center Berlin/Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thronicke
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis Center Berlin/Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heger
authors.affiliation: Reference Laboratory for Cryptococcosis, Scedosporiosis and Imported Systemic Mycoses, FG16, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antweiler
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Berlin Institute of Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krannich
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis Center Berlin/Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jobst
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roehmel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis Center Berlin/Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis Center Berlin/Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staab
authors.affiliation: Reference Laboratory for Cryptococcosis, Scedosporiosis and Imported Systemic Mycoses, FG16, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tintelnot
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Cystic Fibrosis Center Berlin/Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057805:Pets; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; cystic fibrosis; indoor air problems; inhalative allergens; respiratory infection