Survival in cats with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus

Researchers evaluated 114 cats with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus to determine overall survival time and identify prognostic factors associated with survival time. Medical records of all diabetic cats admitted to the Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich (Switzerland), between January 2000 and July 2009 were reviewed.

Cats were included in the study if they had newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus, had not been treated for diabetes, and had follow-up examinations at the same institution until death or until the last reevaluation for which records were available. Cats were excluded if, at diagnosis, the owners denied a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and hospitalization or if the cats were referred and previously treated by private practitioners.

Results:

Median survival time of diabetic cats was 516 days (range, 1 to 3,468 days)

70%, 64%, and 46% lived longer than 3, 6, and 24 months, respectively.

Survival time was significantly shorter for cats with higher creatinine concentrations, with a hazard of dying approximately 5% greater for each increase of 10 μg/dL in serum creatinine concentration.

Ketoacidosis was not significantly associated with survival time

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