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A Questionnaire Survey on Long-Term Outcomes in Cats Breed-Screened for Feline Cardiomyopathy
Anna Follby1, Anna Pettersson2, Ingrid Ljungvall3
1AniCura Läckeby Djursjukhus, SE-395 98 Läckeby, Sweden.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|October 27, 2022
Summary
Feline cardiomyopathy (FCM) significantly impacts cat health. Repeated screenings are vital, as cats diagnosed with FCM, even later in life, face a shorter lifespan and increased cardiac death risk.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Animal Health
- Genetics and Breeding
Background:
- Feline cardiomyopathy (FCM) is a primary cause of illness and death in cats.
- Breed screening for FCM (BS-FCM) aims to identify at-risk cats early.
- Long-term outcomes for cats undergoing FCM screening are not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term prognosis of cats screened for feline cardiomyopathy in Nordic countries.
- To evaluate the impact of FCM diagnosis timing on cardiac-related mortality and overall lifespan.
- To assess the necessity of repeated screening protocols for feline cardiomyopathy.
Main Methods:
- An explorative follow-up questionnaire study involving 1113 cats screened for FCM between 2004-2015.
- Analysis of medical records to identify cats diagnosed with FCM during or after the screening period.
- Comparison of survival times and causes of death between FCM-affected cats and those without FCM.
Main Results:
- 9.3% of screened cats developed FCM, with over half diagnosed during screening.
- Cats diagnosed with FCM, whether through screening or later reporting, had a higher risk of cardiac death.
- FCM-affected cats exhibited significantly shorter lifespans compared to unaffected cats.
Conclusions:
- A substantial percentage of cats develop FCM after initial screening, highlighting the need for repeated screenings.
- Early or later diagnosis of FCM is associated with reduced lifespan and increased cardiac mortality.
- Non-cardiac morbidities did not differ significantly across screening groups, suggesting FCM is the primary driver of mortality differences.
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