Allergy Asthma Proc. 2022 Nov 1;43(6):e65-e71. doi: 10.2500/aap.2022.43.220066.
Cat allergen sensitization is a significant risk factor for allergic rhinitis and asthma. There are insufficient data on the preferences and attitudes of cat owners who have a cat allergy. To investigate the clinical characteristics of adults sensitized to cats and their association with cat ownership, and to assess owners' attitudes and behaviors. The study evaluated adult patients, ages between 19 and 74 years, who were sensitized to cat allergen as confirmed by skin-prick tests. The demographic and clinical data of the patients were obtained retrospectively from the hospital medical records system. A telephone interview with patients was conducted to evaluate whether they owned a cat and their attitudes toward cat allergy. A total of 143 patients who could not be reached by telephone or who refused to participate in the study were excluded. Patients were categorized into never owned a cat, early cat ownership (having a cat or cats in the first 2 years of the patient's life), and past and current cat ownership according to the status of patients at the time of their skin-prick test. Current cat owners were questioned whether they relinquished their cats and the presence and the degree of symptoms of both patients who relinquished their cats and patients who continued to live with their cats. A total of 245 patients (women/men, 151/94) with a mean age of 31.56 ± 11.33 were included in the study. Eighty-three patients (33.9%) were current cat owners. After the skin-prick test, 54 cat owners (66.1%) continued living with their cats. Two-thirds of these owners were symptomatic, with 95% experiencing nasal symptoms. Only five of the patients with symptoms (14.3%) reported worsening symptoms. Any significant impact on symptoms was not determined with regard to number of cats, cat breeds, and precautionary measures. Cat allergen is a potential risk for public health. The clinician must engage in shared decision-making as to what type of environmental changes that the patient is willing to make and what treatment options, if any, they are ready to accept, recognizing that most patients will prefer to keep their cats.
猫过敏原致敏是过敏性鼻炎和哮喘的重要危险因素。目前关于有猫过敏的猫主人的偏好和态度的数据不足。本研究旨在调查对猫过敏的成年人的临床特征及其与养猫的关系，并评估主人的态度和行为。
该研究评估了年龄在 19 至 74 岁之间、经皮试证实对猫过敏原过敏的成年患者。从医院病历系统中回顾性地获得了患者的人口统计学和临床数据。对患者进行了电话访谈，以评估他们是否养猫以及他们对猫过敏的态度。共有 143 名患者无法通过电话联系或拒绝参与研究，被排除在外。根据患者皮试时的状态，将患者分为从未养猫、早期养猫（在患者生命的头 2 年养猫或养猫）和过去及现在养猫。询问目前的猫主人是否放弃了他们的猫，以及放弃猫的患者和继续与猫生活的患者的症状存在和严重程度。
共纳入 245 名（女性/男性，151/94）患者，平均年龄为 31.56 ± 11.33 岁。83 名（33.9%）患者为目前的猫主人。皮试后，54 名猫主人（66.1%）继续与他们的猫生活在一起。其中三分之二的主人有症状，95%的人有鼻部症状。只有 5 名有症状的患者（14.3%）报告症状恶化。无论是猫的数量、猫的品种还是预防措施，都没有确定对症状有任何显著影响。
猫过敏原是公共卫生的潜在风险。临床医生必须参与共同决策，了解患者愿意进行何种类型的环境改变，以及他们准备接受何种治疗选择，因为大多数患者会更愿意养猫。
