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Risk factors associated with the development of chronic kidney disease in cats evaluated at primary care veterinary
Joseph P Greene1, Sandra L Lefebvre, Mansen Wang
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108.
Insights
Identifying risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats is crucial. Recent weight loss, thin body condition, and prior health issues like cystitis are key indicators for CKD assessment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Nephrology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common and progressive condition in feline populations.
- Early identification of risk factors can aid in timely diagnosis and management of feline CKD.
- Understanding the multifactorial nature of CKD in cats is essential for veterinary practitioners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze risk factors associated with the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats.
- To investigate the association between clinical signs, body condition, and CKD development in felines.
- To provide data that can inform diagnostic strategies for feline CKD.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case-control study involving 1,230 cats diagnosed with CKD and 1,230 age-matched controls.
- Data extraction from veterinary hospital records for analysis of putative risk factors using multivariate logistic regression.
- Analysis of body weight changes and clinical signs from medical records up to 12 months prior to diagnosis or control inclusion.
Main Results:
- Identified risk factors for feline CKD include thin body condition, prior periodontal disease, cystitis, anesthesia, dehydration, neutered male status, and geographic location (excluding the northeast US).
- Decreased CKD probability was associated with increased body weight (in nondehydrated cats), domestic shorthair breed, and prior diabetes mellitus.
- Clinical signs like vomiting, polyuria/polydipsia, appetite/energy loss, and halitosis at diagnosis were linked to increased CKD probability, unlike signs reported earlier.
Conclusions:
- The probability of CKD diagnosis in cats is influenced by a combination of factors, including recent weight loss.
- Recent weight loss, especially when combined with other identified risk factors, necessitates a thorough assessment for CKD in cats.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering multiple clinical and historical variables for early feline CKD detection.
Objective:
To identify risk factors associated with diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats.
Design:
Retrospective case-control study.
Animals:
1,230 cats with a clinical diagnosis of CKD, serum creatinine concentration > 1.6 mg/dL, and urine specific gravity < 1.035 and 1,230 age-matched control cats.
Procedures:
Data on putative risk factors for CKD were extracted for multivariate logistic regression analysis from the medical records of cats brought to 755 primary care veterinary hospitals. For a subset of cats evaluated 6 to 12 months prior to the date of CKD diagnosis or control group inclusion, the percentage change in body weight between those dates as well as clinical signs at the earlier date were analyzed for associations with CKD development.
Results:
Risk factors for CKD in cats included thin body condition, prior periodontal disease or cystitis, anesthesia or documented dehydration in the preceding year, being a neutered male (vs spayed female), and living anywhere in the United States other than the northeast. The probability of CKD decreased with increasing body weight in nondehydrated cats, domestic shorthair breed, and prior diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and increased when vomiting, polyuria or polydipsia, appetite or energy loss, or halitosis was present at the time of diagnosis or control group inclusion but not when those signs were reported 6 to 12 months earlier. Median weight loss during the preceding 6 to 12 months was 10.8% and 2.1% in cats with and without CKD, respectively.
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
The probability of CKD diagnosis in cats was influenced by several variables; recent weight loss, particularly in combination with the other factors, warrants assessment of cats for CKD.
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