title: A retrospective study of 180 anaemic cats: features, aetiologies and survival data.
abstract: The study comprised 180 anaemic cats. Descriptive and survival data were obtained. Cats were classified by aetiology of anaemia development and degenerative, anomalous, metabolic, miscellaneous, neoplastic, infectious, inflammatory, immune-mediated, toxic, traumatic or vascular disease (DAMNITV) classification and anaemia severity. Sixty-four (35.6%) cats had mild [packed cell volume (PCV)/haematocrit (HCT) 20-24.9%], 58 (32.2%) moderate (14-19.9%), 23 (12.8%) severe (11-13.9%) and 35 (19.4%) very severe (<10.9%) anaemia. By aetiology of anaemia development, bone marrow (BM) abnormalities were more common (95, 52.8%) than haemorrhage (37, 20.6%) or haemolysis (19, 10.6%). By DAMNITV classification, infectious diseases were more common (39, 21.7%) than neoplasia (36, 20%), metabolic (21, 11.7%), trauma (15, 8.3%), miscellaneous (14, 7.8%), inflammatory (11, 6.1%), immune-mediated (11, 6.1%), anomalous (8, 4.4%), toxic (2, 1.1%) or vascular disease (1, 0.6%). BM abnormalities were significantly associated with more severe anaemia (P = 0.003). Most cats (112, 62.2%) survived to discharge whereas 55 (30.6%) were euthanased and 13 (7.2%) died. Survival to discharge was not associated with anaemia severity but was associated significantly with aetiology of anaemia development (P = 0.046), as cats with haemolysis were more likely to survive to discharge than cats with BM abnormalities. Survival to discharge was also associated significantly with DAMNITV classification (P = 0.010), with cats with neoplasia being less likely, and cats with immune-mediated disease more likely, to survive to discharge. Cox regression analysis found that survival was not associated with anaemia severity, but was associated with DAMNITV classification (P = 0.011) and age (P = 0.082), with cats with immune-mediated disease and younger cats more likely to survive.
authors.affiliation: The Feline Centre, Langford Veterinary Services, School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, UK. rkorman@vss.net.au
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Korman
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hetzel
authors.forename: Toby G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tasker
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies