Key result
In boxer dogs with ARVC, syncope was associated with a shorter median survival time (365 vs 693 days) and a 4.8-fold greater probability of death within a year (95% CI 1.48-15.99).
Why the study?
What clinical factors and treatments are associated with survival in boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy?
Cohort (n=62)
What clinical factors and treatments are associated with survival in boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy?
Relative Risk: 4.8 (95% CI 1.48–15.99)
p-value: p=0.012
In boxer dogs with ARVC, younger age and absence of syncope are associated with better survival, whereas the choice of antiarrhythmic therapy does not significantly impact survival time.
Syncope flags higher-risk boxer dogs with ARVC for intensified monitoring; hypothesis-generating and should not yet alter management.
The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate survival in a population of 62 boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), without left ventricular systolic failure, based on the following factors: age at diagnosis, presence of syncopal episodes, Holter arrhythmia classification and administered treatment. Medical records of boxer dogs with a diagnosis of ARVC between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed. Results showed that median survival time (MST) was longer in younger ARVC dogs than in the older ones P<0.001). MST was statistically different (P=0.012) between dogs with syncope (365 days) and dogs without syncope episodes (693 days), the probability of death within a year being 4.8 times greater in dogs with syncope (95% CI 1.48 to 15.99) than in dogs without syncope. Regarding Holter classification results, MST was 547.5 days in Holter class-2 dogs and 365 days in Holter class-4 dogs (P=0.030). There were no differences regarding treatment options; MST was 365 days (95% CI 193.615 to 536.4) in the sotalol group, 365 days (95% CI 92.86 to 637.14) in the mexiletine plus atenolol group, and 547.50 days (95% CI 170.45 to 924.55) in the procainamide group (P=0.383). According to this study, the best prognosis is for the younger boxer dog without syncope. There were no differences in survival times in relation to the different treatment options used.
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Caro‐Vadillo et al. (2013) conducted a cohort in Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) (n=62). Syncope vs. No syncope was evaluated on Death within a year (RR 4.8, 95% CI 1.48-15.99, p=0.012). In boxer dogs with ARVC, syncope was associated with a shorter median survival time (365 vs 693 days) and a 4.8-fold greater probability of death within a year (95% CI 1.48-15.99).
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