title: Prevalence of heart disease in symptomatic cats: an overview from 1998 to 2005.
abstract: A total of 408 cats with various cardiovascular problems has been presented to two investigational clinics during the last 8 years. The number of yearly examinations has steadily increased during this period. Definitive cardiovascular disease was diagnosed in 287 cats, whereby hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was the most common diagnosis with 67.6%. Congenital cardiovascular malformations were found in 11.8% of the cases. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was the most frequent anomaly, in contrast to previously published studies. The ECG was found to be relatively non-specific and insensitive for the diagnosis of heart disease: Its usefulness lies in the recognition and diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. The radiographically recognized changes were also non-specific for certain heart diseases. Radiographs of the thorax are especially useful in the evaluation of cardiomegaly, and secondary signs of congestion.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Berne, Switzerland. Sabine.Riesen@kkh.unibe.ch
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Riesen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kovacevic
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lombard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology