Open Access
Research (Published online: 09-05-2020)
6. Accuracy of methods for diagnosing heart diseases in cats
Tanarut Laudhittirut, Natrada Rujivipat, Kornnicha Saringkarisate, Peeraya Soponpattana, Teerawat Tunwichai and Sirilak Disatian Surachetpong
Veterinary World, 13(5): 872-878

Tanarut Laudhittirut: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Natrada Rujivipat: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Kornnicha Saringkarisate: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Peeraya Soponpattana: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Teerawat Tunwichai: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Sirilak Disatian Surachetpong: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.872-878

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Article history: Received: 14-11-2019, Accepted: 07-04-2020, Published online: 09-05-2020

Corresponding author: Sirilak Disatian Surachetpong

E-mail: sirilakd27@gmail.com

Citation: Laudhittirut T, Rujivipat N, Saringkarisate K, Soponpattana P, Tunwichai T, Surachetpong SD (2020) Accuracy of methods for diagnosing heart diseases in cats, Veterinary World, 13(5): 872-878.
Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the accuracy of the current methods for diagnosing heart diseases in cats.

Materials and Methods: The data of 58 cats were retrospectively retrieved. Cats were classified into two groups: Thirty-eight cats with heart diseases and 20 healthy cats. Echocardiography was the gold standard method for diagnosing heart disease. The results of seven methods were retrieved: (1) Vertebral heart score (VHS) with a cutoff value >8, (2) VHS with a cutoff value >8.5, (3) multiplication of cardiac length (L) and width (W), (4) multiplication of cardiac L and W divided by the L of the fourth sternal thoracic bone, (5) N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) point-of-care test, (6) subjective ultrasonographic assessment of the left atrial size, and (7) subjective radiographic assessment of the left atrial size. Cross-tabulation was used to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for each test. This study found that using the NT-proBNP point-of-care test was optimal in the diagnosis of cats with heart disease.

Results: The subjective ultrasonographic assessment of the left atrial size was good for diagnosing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.

Conclusion: This study showed that the more tests used, the higher the reliability of the diagnosis.

Keywords: cardiac disease diagnosis, N-terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, thoracic radiography, ultrasonography.