Development and evaluation of a questionnaire for assessment of health-related quality of life in cats with cardiac disease

Freeman, Lisa M.; Rush, John E.; Oyama, Mark A.; MacDonald, Kristin A.; Cunningham, Suzanne M.; Bulmer, Barret J.; MacGregor, John; Laste, Nancy J.; Malakoff, Rebecca L.; Hall, Daniel J.; Trafny, Dennis J.

doi:10.2460/javma.240.10.1188

Cited by 46 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Such concern can negatively impact quality of life and potentially lead or contribute to a decision for euthanasia. The findings in the current study and other studies23, 30, 31 reinforce the importance of open communication with owners regarding issues that are perceived as negatively affecting their pet's quality of life. If difficulties with administering medications are identified, strategies to improve adherence can be recommended.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Additional information collected for each cat included body weight, heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate, temperature, dose of furosemide received (in mg/kg/d) in first 24 hours after admission, medications at discharge, whether thoracocentesis was performed, presence of thrombus or spontaneous echogenic contrast, and Cats’ Assessment Tool for Cardiac Health (CATCH) quality of life questionnaire 23. Owners of all cats were contacted via telephone at 3 months post‐initial CHF presentation and every 3 months thereafter to obtain an update until death or euthanasia.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association between Survival Time and Changes inNT‐proBNPin Cats Treated for Congestive Heart Failure

Pierce

Freeman

Cunningham

et al. 2017

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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BackgroundReductions in N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) concentrations after treatment have been associated with improved survival in people with congestive heart failure (CHF), but have not been reported in cats with CHF.ObjectivesTo evaluate changes in NT‐proBNP concentrations in cats with CHF after treatment and determine whether serial NT‐proBNP measurements provide prognostic information.AnimalsThirty‐one client‐owned cats.MethodsProspective, observational study in cats with new onset CHF secondary to cardiomyopathy. Concentrations of NT‐proBNP were measured within 4 hours of admission to the hospital, on the day of discharge, and at re‐evaluation 7–10 days later.ResultsMedian NT‐proBNP concentrations decreased significantly from admission (1,713 pmol/L [range, 160–3,784 pmol/L]) to discharge (902 pmol/L [range, 147–3,223 pmol/L]); P = .005) and from admission to re‐evaluation (1,124 pmol/L [range, 111–2,727 pmol/L]; P = .024). Median survival time was 109 days (range, 1–709 days), with 5 cats still alive at the time of analysis. Cats with a larger percent decrease in NT‐proBNP from admission to discharge had a longer survival time (P = .048). Cats with evidence of active CHF at the time of re‐evaluation (P = .010) and cats whose owners had difficulty administering medications (P = .045) had shorter survival times.Conclusions and clinical importanceCats with a larger percent decrease in NT‐proBNP during hospitalization and no evidence of CHF at the time of re‐evaluation had longer survival times. Additional studies are needed to determine whether NT‐proBNP can help guide treatment in cats with CHF.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Survival Time and Changes inNT‐proBNPin Cats Treated for Congestive Heart Failure

Pierce

Freeman

Cunningham

et al. 2017

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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“…These questionnaires have also proven useful for individual patient management. In veterinary medicine, no such questionnaire exists for rhinitis, although they have been used to assess QOL associated with diseases such as brachycephaly, chronic pain, skin disease, cancer, idiopathic epilepsy, and cardiac disease …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severity of Nasal Inflammatory Disease Questionnaire for Canine Idiopathic Rhinitis Control: Instrument Development and Initial Validity Evidence

Greene

Royal

Bradley

et al. 2016

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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BackgroundEffective treatments are needed for idiopathic chronic rhinitis in dogs, but assessment of efficacy requires a practical, quantifiable method for assessing severity of disease.ObjectivesTo develop and perform initial validity and reliability testing of an owner‐completed questionnaire for assessing clinical signs and dog and owner quality of life (QOL) in canine chronic rhinitis.AnimalsTwenty‐two dogs with histopathologically confirmed chronic rhinitis and 72 healthy dogs.MethodsIn this prospective study, an online questionnaire was created based on literature review and feedback from veterinarians, veterinary internists with respiratory expertise, and owners of dogs with rhinitis. Owners of affected dogs completed the questionnaire twice, 1 week apart, to test reliability. Healthy dogs were assessed once. Data were analyzed using the Rasch Rating Scale Model, and results were interpreted using Messick's framework for evaluating construct validity evidence.ResultsInitial item generation resulted in 5 domains: nasal signs, paranasal signs, global rhinitis severity, and dog's and owner's QOL. A 25‐item questionnaire was developed using 5‐point Likert‐type scales. No respondent found the questionnaire difficult to complete. Strong psychometric evidence was available to support the substantive, generalizability, content, and structural aspects of construct validity. Statistical differences were found between responses for affected and control dogs for all but 2 items. These items were eliminated, resulting in the 23‐item Severity of Nasal Inflammatory Disease (SNIFLD) questionnaire.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe SNIFLD questionnaire provides a mechanism for repeated assessments of disease severity in dogs with chronic rhinitis.

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“…Similarly, although euthanasia of animals is generally considered an acceptable practice, the appropriate timing of euthanasia for animals afflicted with chronic debilitating conditions remains an ongoing discussion (Lindburg 1999; Manette 2004; Budke et al 2008; Jarvis 2010; Lynch et al 2011; Freeman et al 2012). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishing ‘quality of life’ parameters using behavioural guidelines for humane euthanasia of captive non-human primates

et al. 2013

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Chronic pain and distress are universally accepted conditions that may adversely affect an animal’s quality of life (QOL) and lead to the humane euthanasia of an animal. At most research institutions and zoological parks in the USA, a veterinarian, who has physically examined the animal and reviewed the clinical records, ultimately decides when an animal has reached a humane endpoint. To aid in the difficult process of interpreting pain and distress, we have developed specific behavioural guidelines, in addition to standard clinical information, to help define unique characteristics and traits of primates to assess and promote discussion of an individual primate’s QOL, and thereby, to assist in the decision-making process regarding euthanasia. These guidelines advocate the creation of a QOL team when the animal is diagnosed with a life-threatening or debilitating chronic condition, or at the time the animal is entered into a terminal study. The team compiles a list of characteristics unique to that individual animal by utilising a questionnaire and a behavioural ethogram. This list enables the team to quantitatively assess any deviations from the established normal behavioural repertoire of that individual. Concurrently, the QOL team determines the number of behavioural deviations that are needed to trigger an immediate discussion of the necessity for humane euthanasia of the animal. The team remains intact once created, and revisits the animal’s condition as frequently as deemed necessary. This process improves animal welfare by continuing the quest to optimally define QOL for captive primates, and potentially for all captive animals.

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Development and evaluation of a questionnaire for assessment of health-related quality of life in cats with cardiac disease

Cited by 46 publications

References 24 publications

Association between Survival Time and Changes inNT‐proBNPin Cats Treated for Congestive Heart Failure

Association between Survival Time and Changes inNT‐proBNPin Cats Treated for Congestive Heart Failure

Severity of Nasal Inflammatory Disease Questionnaire for Canine Idiopathic Rhinitis Control: Instrument Development and Initial Validity Evidence

Establishing ‘quality of life’ parameters using behavioural guidelines for humane euthanasia of captive non-human primates

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