Relationship between indirect blood pressure and various stages of chronic kidney disease in cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Nephrology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a frequent cause of secondary systemic hypertension in felines.
• Understanding the link between CKD progression and hypertension is crucial for feline health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between indirect blood pressure measurements and the prevalence of systemic hypertension in cats across various CKD stages.
• To determine if CKD severity correlates with hypertension and identify risk factors for severe hypertension.

Main Methods:

• Included 24 control cats and 77 client-owned cats with CKD, staged using International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) guidelines (II and III-IV).
• Measured indirect blood pressure via oscillometric technique; severe hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥180 mmHg.
• Conducted plasma biochemical examinations and analyzed correlations between SBP, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and CKD stage using binary logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Cats with IRIS stage III-IV CKD exhibited significantly higher indirect blood pressures compared to controls.
• 32.5% of cats with CKD had severe hypertension, with prevalence increasing by CKD stage (0% in controls, 27.6% in stage II, 47.4% in stages III-IV).
• Plasma creatinine concentration >3.7 mg/dl was a significant risk factor for developing severe hypertension (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Indirect blood pressure in cats is correlated with CKD severity.
• The prevalence of severe hypertension escalates with increasing CKD stage in cats.
• Cats with severe CKD face a heightened risk of developing severe hypertension.