title: Comparison of auscultatory and echocardiographic findings in healthy adult cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study was performed to investigate murmur prevalence and to explore the association between auscultatory and echocardiographic findings in apparently healthy cats in order to design a larger study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult cats in 4 rehoming centres were screened by auscultation and echocardiography (echo) over 2 periods of 2 weeks each. In the first period, echo was attempted only in cats with murmurs. In the second period, all cats underwent auscultation by 2 observers and echo. LVH was defined in 5 ways: maximal diastolic left ventricular (LV) wall thickness ≥ 6 mm or ≥ 5.5 mm with 2D (LVH(6 2D), LVH(5.5 2D), respectively) or M-Mode echo (LVH(6 MM) or LVH(5.5 MM) respectively), or LV wall thickness ≥ 6 mm (2D) for >50% of a wall segment (LVH(50%)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  67/199 (34%) cats had a murmur. Interobserver agreement on murmur presence was moderate (κ 0.47). 61 cats with a murmur and 31 cats without underwent both auscultation and echo. Depending on the criteria, LVH was present in 31 (LVH(6 2D)), 21 (LVH(50%)) and 11 (LVH(6 MM)) scanned cats. 18-62% of cats with murmurs had LVH, depending on the echo criteria used. Agreement was best between observers in identifying LVH using LVH(6 2D) and LVH(50%) (κ = 1.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Heart murmurs are common in apparently healthy cats. The prevalence of LVH varies depending on the criteria used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, UK.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Virginia Luis
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Jessie Rose
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Noemie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brodbelt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006326:Heart Auscultation / Q000662:veterinary*; D006337:Heart Murmurs / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence