• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Heart Rate and Survival in Dogs With Atrial Fibrillation

August 9, 2018
Kate Boatright, VMD

What role does heart rate play in the prognosis of dogs with chronic atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation is a clinically significant arrhythmia that develops in the presence of existing heart disease. In dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF), the presence of atrial fibrillation is a poor prognostic indicator.

Treatment of atrial fibrillation in dogs is aimed at heart rate control. Traditionally, maintenance of higher rates has been recommended, but these recommendations are not evidence-based.

RELATED:

  • Link Between Birth Month and Canine Heart Disease Risk
  • Anesthetic Complications in Dogs with Heart Disease

Researchers from the United Kingdom and United States recently performed a retrospective evaluation of the effect of heart rate on survival in dogs with atrial fibrillation.

Study Design

Medical records from the University of Liverpool and the University of Pennsylvania from 2008 to 2016 were evaluated. Dogs with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and at least 1 Holter recording obtained in the home environment were included. Patients were excluded if they had been treated with doxorubicin, had serious concurrent systemic disease (eg, neoplasia), experienced a change in rhythm to sinus or atrial flutter, or required a pacemaker.

Patient signalment, cardiovascular and rhythm diagnosis, medical treatments during the Holter recording, and patient outcome were recorded.

Advertisement

The following data points were analyzed from the Holter recordings:

  • Mean heart rate, averaged over 24 hours
  • Minimum heart rate, averaged over 1 minute
  • Maximum heart rate, averaged over 1 minute

The primary study endpoint was all-cause mortality. A secondary endpoint of death due to cardiac disease was included. Cardiac deaths included euthanasia due to progression of CHF and sudden death.

Results

Forty-six dogs were included in the study (3 intact females, 8 spayed females, 17 intact males, 18 neutered males). Patients represented multiple breeds and ages (median, 7 years; range, 1-14 years). Thirty-one patients were under medical management for CHF. Forty-four patients were on 1 or more medications for rate control with digoxin, diltiazem, amiodarone, and/or sotalol.

Sex, neutering status, age, weight, study site, and cardiac diagnosis were not significantly associated with either all-cause or cardiac mortality. The presence or absence of CHF at the time of diagnosis of atrial fibrillation was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality.

While all heart rate parameters correlated with both all-cause and cardiac mortality, only mean heart rate was associated independently with survival. The median mean heart rate was 125 bpm (range, 62-203 bpm).

Kaplan-Meier survival curves were analyzed for dogs split into 2 cohorts based on the median mean heart rate of 125 bpm. Median survival time for dogs with mean heart rate less than 125 bpm (1037 days) was significantly longer than those with mean heart rate of 125 or higher (105 days).

Take-home Message

The results of this study show that patients with atrial fibrillation live longer with lower heart rates. This study suggests a therapeutic target of 125 bpm based on Holter recordings for patients with atrial fibrillation. Prospective studies are needed to further explore treatment targets in patients with atrial fibrillation as well as compare the medications used for rate control.

Dr. Boatright, a 2013 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, works as a general practitioner and emergency veterinarian in western Pennsylvania. She is active in her state and local veterinary medical associations and is a former national officer of the Veterinary Business Management Association.


Advertisement

Latest News

Novel vaccine on the market for viruses in pigs

3 Must-reads for World Oceans Day

Research reveals efficacy of non-surgical contraceptive alternative for cats

Potential blood transfusion may offer lion chance of survival

View More Latest News
Advertisement