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Cited by 18Human-Animal Interaction StudiesHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic ControlAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

Effects of Proximity between Companion Dogs and Their Caregivers on Heart Rate Variability Measures in Older Adults: A Pilot Study

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Ortmeyer, Heidi K., Katzel, Leslie I.·2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
DOI 10.3390/ijerph17082674PMC PMC7215279
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Abstract

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive tool used to evaluate autonomic nervous system function and is affected by age, stress, postural changes, and physical activity. Dog ownership has been associated with higher 24-hr HRV and increased physical activity compared to nonowners. The current pilot study was designed to evaluate the effects of proximity to a dog in real time (minute-by-minute) on older dog caregivers' HRV measures and stress index during normal daily life over a 24-hr period. Eleven caregivers (56-83 years of age) wore ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometers and camntech electrocardiogram monitors, and 11 dogs wore PetPace Collars and ActiGraph monitors to determine (a) proximity (absence or presence of Received Signal Strength Indicator, RSSI), (b) heart rate and HRV measures, (c) position (lying vs. sitting vs. standing), and (d) physical activity in the 11 dyads. Twenty-four hour HRV (SDNN index) and physical activity in the caregivers and dogs were related. Stress index was lower, and HRV parameters (SDNN, rMSDD, high frequency power (HF)) were higher when an RSSI signal was detected (presence of dog) compared to no RSSI signal (absence of dog) in the caregivers while inactive (lying + sitting + standing combined). HRV parameters (rMSDD and HF) were lower in the caregivers while standing and sitting compared to lying. The results from this pilot study support the hypothesis that spending time in the presence of a companion dog increases caregivers' HRV throughout the day and suggest that proximity to a dog may contribute to overall improvements in 24-hr HRV and cardiac health in dog caregivers.

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  • Pets can play an important role in reducing absenteeism and visits to family doctors or the hospital.

    “Pets can therefore play an important role in reducing absenteeism and visits to family doctors or the hospital [28].”

    From A One Health Perspective on the Human-Companion Animal Relationship with Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects. (2020) · cites this paper as [28]

    The Results and Discussion report stress-index and heart-rate-variability differences associated with caregivers’ proximity to their dogs. Our copy does not address reduced absenteeism, family-doctor visits, or hospital visits; searches for those terms and related healthcare-utilization terms found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.75)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Ortmeyer, H. K., & Katzel, L. I.
Affiliations
University of Maryland, Baltimore (US)
Corresponding author
Ortmeyer, Heidi K.
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-04-13
Volume
17
Issue
8
Pages
2674
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/ijerph17082674
PMC
PMC7215279
OpenAlex
W3015716061
Cited by
18
References
8
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1
FWCI
1.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Maddie's Fund (n/a)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords
heart rate variability, pet dogs, older adults, human-animal interaction, stress index, physical activity, autonomic nervous system, cardiac health, postural changes
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Animals, Dogs, Electrocardiography, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Caregivers

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