title: Case-control study of the effects of pimobendan on survival time in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess survival time and adverse events related to the administration of pimobendan to cats with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  27 cats receiving treatment with pimobendan and 27 cats receiving treatment without pimobendan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records between 2003 and 2013 were reviewed. All cats with HCM or HOCM treated with a regimen that included pimobendan (case cats) were identified. Control cats (cats with CHF treated during the same period with a regimen that did not include pimobendan) were selected by matching to case cats on the basis of age, sex, body weight, type of cardiomyopathy, and manifestation of CHF. Data collected included signalment, physical examination findings, echocardiographic data, serum biochemical values, and survival time from initial diagnosis of CHF. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and compared by means of a log rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cats receiving pimobendan had a significant benefit in survival time. Median survival time of case cats receiving pimobendan was 626 days, whereas median survival time for control cats not receiving pimobendan was 103 days. No significant differences were detected for any other variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of pimobendan to traditional treatment for CHF may provide a substantial clinical benefit in survival time for HCM-affected cats with CHF and possibly HOCM-affected cats with CHF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607.
authors.forename: Yamir
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Reina-Doreste
authors.forename: Joshua A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Bruce W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Keene
authors.forename: Sandra P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tou
authors.forename: Clarke E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: Teresa C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: DeFrancesco
authors.forename: Marisa K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: Timothy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Meurs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D011724:Pyridazines; C041648:pimobendan