Allostatic load and canine companionship: a comparative study using biomarkers in older adults

Morales-Jinez, Alejandro; López-Rincón, Francisco J.; Ugarte-Esquivel, Alicia; Andrade-Valles, Irma; Rodríguez-Mejía, Luz Elena; Hernández-Torres, José Luis

doi:10.1590/1518-8345.2755.3071

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Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem

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Original Articles • Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem 26 • 2018 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2755.3071 copy

Allostatic load and canine companionship: a comparative study using biomarkers in older adults^* * Supported by Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente, para el Tipo Superior (PRODEP), Mexico, grant #DSA/103.5/15/7082.

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to compare the biomarkers and the allostatic load levels in a sample of older persons with and without canine companionship.

Method:

descriptive and comparative study. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and a fasting blood sample. The allostatic load comprised 11 biomarkers that are primary and secondary stress mediators, which arise from the following systems: neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic, cardiovascular and anthropometric.

Results:

a significant difference was found in two biomarkers: cortisol (t= -3.091, df=104, p=0.003) and total cholesterol (t= -2.566, df=104, p=0.012), in the allostatic load levels between older adults with and without a canine companionship (U= 1714.00, Z= 2.01, p=0.044). By associating the allostatic load level with the canine companionship, there was a higher frequency of older adults with low allostatic load among those who have canine companion, compared with those who do not have canine companionship. (χ²= 3.69, df=1, p= 0.043).

Conclusion:

canine companionship influences health in a positive way, as the allostatic load is lower in older adults who have a dog as companion, in addition to presenting lower levels of cortisol and total cholesterol.

Descriptors:
Old Adult; Canine Accompaniment; Allostatic Load; Biomarkers; Cortisol; Stressors

Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto / Universidade de São Paulo Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto SP Brazil, Tel.: +55 (16) 3315-3451 / 3315-4407 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
E-mail: rlae@eerp.usp.br

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[1] Corresponding Author:
Alejandro Morales-Jinez E-mail: alejinez@hotmail.com

Biomarker	Cutt-off point
Serum cortisol	> 25.0 μg/dl*
Total cholesterol	> 240 mg/dL^†
High Density Lipoproteins	< 36 mg/dL^†
Glycosylated Hemoglobin	> 7.1%^‡
Fibrinogen	> 336 mg/dL^†
C-Reactive Protein	> 0.3 mg/L^§
Body Mass Index	> 25.0
Systolic blood pressure	> 148 mm/Hg^\|\|
Diastolic blood pressure	> 83.33 mm/Hg^\|\|
Waist Woman Man	> 85 cm^¶ > 95 cm^¶
Waist-hip Ratio	> 0.94

Sociodemographic characteristic	Older adult with canine companionship	Older adult without canine companionship	Statistical analysis
Age Mean Median SD^§ Min-Max^\|\|	68.04 67.00 6.01 60-84	69.02 68.00 6.40 60-85	t=* -0.814, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.418
Education (Years of study) Media Median SD^§ Min-Max^\|\|	6.89 6.00 4.41 0-18	7.38 6.00 5.03 0-25	t=* -0.534, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.594
Gender Woman Man	Frequency (%)^¶ 42 (79.2) 11 (20.8)	Frequency (%)^¶ 40 (75.5) 13 (24.5)	χ²**(1,n=106) = 0.215, p ^‡= 0.408
Marital status With partner Without partner	Frequency (%)^¶ 21 (39.6) 32 (60.4)	Frequency (%)^¶ 27 (50.9) 26 (49.1)	χ²**(1,n=106) = 1.371, p ^‡= 0.165
Presence of chronic disease(s) Yes No	Frequency (%)^¶ 35 (66.0) 18 (34.0)	Frequency (%)^¶ 43 (81.1) 10 (18.9)	χ²**(1,n=106) = 3.106, p ^‡= 0.061

Allostatic load biomarker	Older adult with canine companionship			Older adult without canine companionship			Statistics
Allostatic load biomarker	Mean	Median	SD*	Mean	Median	SD*	Student’s t
Total cholesterol	187.21	183.00	35.78	204.64	199.00	34.13	t= -2.566, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.012^§
Serum cortisol	12.12	11.50	4.05	14.77	14.40	4.73	t= -3.091, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.003^§
High Density Lipoproteins	57.15	58.00	13.10	55.38	54.00	12.68	t= 0.708, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.480
Glycosylated hemoglobin	6.40	5.90	1.82	6.83	6.10	1.79	t= -1.205, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.231
C-Reactive Protein	2.65	1.50	6.57	3.06	1.20	5.76	t= -0.338, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.736
Fibrinogen	468.25	450.00	97.11	438.36	441.00	80.54	t= 1.725, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.088
Body Mass Index	29.51	29.76	4.29	29.39	28.70	4.88	t= 0.125, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.901
Systolic Blood Pressure	140.91	135.67	27.32	147.33	140.00	29.69	t= -1.159, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.249
Diastolic Blood Pressure	76.84	73.33	15.58	78.99	78.00	13.31	t= -0.766, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.445
Waist-Hip Ratio	0.93	0.93	0.06	0.95	0.94	0.07	t= -1.149, df ^†=104, p ^‡ =0.253
Waist Women Men	97.83 101.55	97.50 106.00	9.79 10.82	100.75 98.96	102.00 101.00	9.19 14.43	t= -1.390, df ^†=80, p ^‡ =0.168 t= 0.488, df ^†=22, p ^‡ =0.630

	Low Allostatic Load		High Allostatic Load	Total	Statistics
Canine companionship	Yes	20 (38%)	33 (62%)	53 (100%)	χ² = 3.69*, df=1^†, p= 0.043^‡
Canine companionship	No	11 (21%)	42 (79%)	53 (100%)
Total		31 (29%)	78 (71%)	106 (100%)

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Allostatic load and canine companionship: a comparative study using biomarkers in older adults* * Supported by Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente, para el Tipo Superior (PRODEP), Mexico, grant #DSA/103.5/15/7082.

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Method:

Results:

Conclusion:

Allostatic load and canine companionship: a comparative study using biomarkers in older adults^* * Supported by Programa para el Desarrollo Profesional Docente, para el Tipo Superior (PRODEP), Mexico, grant #DSA/103.5/15/7082.