Prospective evaluation of the prevalence and characteristics of heart murmurs and gallop sounds in anemic cats
Alison Robertson, Adrian Boswood, Virginia Luis Fuentes, Eve J Y Lo, Karen HummAbstract
Background
Heart murmurs and gallop sounds are common in anemic cats; however, their association with underlying cardiac disease is unclear.
Hypothesis/Objectives
Determine the prevalence of murmurs and gallops in anemic cats. Investigate the association of auscultatory abnormalities with anemia severity and heart disease. Investigate whether change in anemia severity affects the audibility of murmurs and gallop sounds.
Animals
Sixty-four anemic cats (packed cell volume [PCV] below 30%) presenting to a referral hospital.
Methods
Single-center prospective observational study. On presentation, cats were examined and had PCV measurement. Each cat underwent echocardiography. Cats had PCV checks and daily auscultation to document heart sounds.
Results
Fifty-eight percent (37/64) had a murmur and 23% (15/64) had a gallop. Mean PCV at enrollment was 18% (±6). Lower PCV was associated with the presence of a murmur (P = .03) and gallop (P = .016). Cardiac disease was present in 34% (22/64) of cats. After adjusting for anemia severity, murmur presence showed no statistically significant association with cardiac disease (P = .636 (OR: 1.31, 95% CI, 0.43-3.95)). A gallop sound was associated with greater odds of cardiac disease (P = .037 (OR: 3.97, 95% CI, 1.09-14.5)). Murmur intensity (P = .001) and likelihood of a gallop sound (P = .022) were lower in individuals when their PCVs increased.
Conclusions and clinical importance
Murmurs and gallop sounds are common in anemic cats with and without cardiac disease. Anemic cats with gallops are more likely to have underlying cardiac disease than anemic cats without gallops.