Assessment of the responsiveness of the Cats' Assessment Tool for Cardiac Health (CATCH) questionnaire

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate the responsiveness and optimal timing of a validated health-related quality of life questionnaire, and to assess the relationship between quality of life, severity of disease, and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in cats with acute congestive heart failure (CHF). AnimalsThirty client-owned cats with acute CHF. MethodsEchocardiography, International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) stage, and NT-proBNP were assessed in cats within 36 h of admission. The Cats' Assessment Tool for Cardiac Health (CATCH) Questionnaire (range of 0–80, with 80 being the worst possible score) was completed by cat owners and ISACHC stage was assessed at the time of hospital discharge, 3 days after discharge, and 7–14 days after discharge. NT-proBNP concentration was reassessed 7–14 days after discharge. ResultsThe ISACHC stage at time of admission improved significantly by reevaluation 7–14 days after discharge (P < 0.001). The decrease in median NT-proBNP concentration from time of admission (655 pmol/L; range, 188 to >1500 pmol/L) to reevaluation (583 pmol/L; range, 41 to >1500 pmol/L) was not significant (P = 0.59). Median CATCH score was 26 (range, 0–70) at baseline, 19 (range, 0 to 61) at discharge, and 19 (range, 2–49) 7–14 days after discharge (P = 0.89). CATCH scores did not correlate with NT-proBNP concentrations or ISACHC stage. ConclusionsThese results suggest that the CATCH questionnaire requires further refinement for uses requiring a responsive instrument in cats with acute CHF.