title: Risk factors associated with sudden death vs. congestive heart failure or arterial thromboembolism in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate risk factors associated with different types of cardiac death in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fifty-five cats with HCM referred to a veterinary teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study. Cats with HCM were identified that had either died within 2 years of diagnosis or were known to be alive 2 years after initial examination. Signalment, physical exam, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data were analyzed separately for association with death due to congestive heart failure (CHF) vs. aortic thromboembolism (ATE) vs. sudden death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 2 years of follow-up, 23/255 (9.0%) cats had died with ATE, 44/255 (17.3%) cats had died with CHF and 12/255 (4.7%) cats had experienced a sudden death, with 141/255 (55.3%) cats still alive at the end of 2 years. Presence of CHF at presentation and reduced left ventricular fractional shortening (FS%) were independently associated with a CHF death within 2 years of diagnosis. Presence of ATE and reduced left atrial fractional shortening (LA-FS%) were independently associated with dying with ATE within 2 years. No multivariable models were generated for risks of dying a sudden death owing to the low event rate, but syncope at presentation and arrhythmias on auscultation were associated with sudden death on univariable analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asymptomatic cats have a reduced risk of all three types of death. Reduced FS% and a history of CHF independently predict CHF death, and reduced LA-FS% and history of ATE independently predict ATE death. Sudden death is less commonly reported but is associated with syncope.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Highcroft Veterinary Referrals, 615 Wells Road, Whitchurch, Bristol, BS14 9BE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borgeat
authors.affiliation: Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Brodbelt
authors.affiliation: Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.affiliation: Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: vluisfuentes@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luis Fuentes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002415:Cats; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: ATE; CHF; HCM; Left atrial function; Syncope