Hypertension in diabetic humans is common (prevalence 40 to 80%) and related with hyperglycemia, duration of the disease and several complications. In diabetic cats, previous studies shown that hypertension is not present or it is uncommon. The aims of this study were to determine prevalence of hypertension in feline diabetes mellitus (DM) and its potential relation with different parameters (age, body condition score [BCS], BCS previous to diagnosis, sex, glycemic control, time since diagnosis, concurrent diseases, chronic corticoid treatments, diabetic neuropathy and remission).

Thirty diabetic cats were assessed for the first time at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Complutense between January 2013 and April 2016. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured using Doppler methodology. Hypertension was defined as ≥160 mm Hg, and subclassified following the ACVIM consensus and the ISFM guidelines. BCS was categorized from 1 to 9, being 5 the ideal weight. No cat was receiving anti-hypertensive treatment.

Age ranged from 3 to 16 years, 23/30 males and 7/30 females; all neutered excepting one male. At diagnosis 12/30 (40%) of the cats were underweight. Previous to diagnosis no cat was underweight, in fact 83% (25/30) were overweight.

Prevalence of hypertension was 30% (9/30) and 4/30 had severe hypertension (≥180 mm Hg). Concurrent diseases known to be associated with hypertension were present in 9/30 cats (30%).

Hypertension and SBP values were not correlated with age, time since diagnosis, sex, glycemic control, corticoid excess, remission or diabetic neuropathy.

BCS previous to diagnosis was negatively correlated with SBP (p=0.039). None of the overweight cats previous to diagnosis were hypertensive (p=0.008). Also, underweight cats at diagnosis shown a higher prevalence of hypertension than those with a BCS≥5 (50% and 25% respectively; p=0.038).

Prevalence of hypertension was different in diabetic cats without concurrent diseases (0%), diabetic cats with a disease not associated with hypertension (29%) and those with a disease known to increase SBP (56%)(p=0.023).

Remission was present in 11/27 cats (41%) with a median time of 4.2±3.5 months. Remission was positively correlated with the presence of diabetic neuropathy at first visit (p=0.052).

Hypertension seems to be infrequent in diabetic cats as previously reported, and it is positively correlated with concurrent diseases associated with hypertension and negatively correlated with BCS before diagnosis. The relation between hypertension, obesity and diabetes in cats is not similar to observed in humans. In hypertensive diabetic cats, it is recommended to search for other diseases causing the elevated blood pressure.

Disclosures

No disclosures to report.