Key result
Advancing age in apparently healthy dogs was significantly associated with changes in ECG morphology, including a positive linear relationship with P-wave duration (slope 0.15 ms/year, P<0.001).
Why the study?
Although aging leads to cardiac structural changes manifested on ECGs in humans and certain animal models, no veterinary study had evaluated if comparable aging changes occur in canine species.
Do age, gender, and anxiety affect ECG waveform morphology in a large population of healthy domestic dogs?
Cross-Sectional (n=12,026)
Do age, gender, and anxiety affect ECG waveform morphology in a large population of healthy domestic dogs?
p-value: p=<0.001
In a large population of healthy domestic dogs, advancing age is associated with significant changes in ECG waveform morphology, suggesting canines may serve as a useful model for human cardiac aging.
Age-related ECG changes in healthy dogs should not yet inform norms; leaves open their utility as a model for human cardiac aging.
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Murphy et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Apparently healthy domestic dogs (n=12,026). Advancing age, sex, and anxiety vs. Younger age / different anxiety levels was evaluated on ECG waveform morphology changes (P-wave amplitude and duration, R-wave amplitude, QRS duration) (p=<0.001). Advancing age in apparently healthy dogs was significantly associated with changes in ECG morphology, including a positive linear relationship with P-wave duration (slope 0.15 ms/year, P<0.001).
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