Health problems in cats with diabetes and high blood pressure

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to report the concurrent disorders and treatment success of cats with diabetes mellitus (DM) and arterial systolic hypertension (SH). METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted of 17 cats with DM and SH that were examined at a university teaching hospital between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2021. The medical records of diabetic cats were searched for the keywords 'hypertension', 'blood pressure', 'amlodipine', 'benazepril' and 'telmisartan' to identify cats with SH, which was defined as systemic arterial blood pressure (SABP) ⩾160 mmHg, documented at least twice, over several days. Comorbidities, including chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism, were recorded. Medications used for the treatment of SH and the SABP response to treatment were also noted. RESULTS: Most cats (13/17, 76%) with DM and SH had at least one other documented concurrent illness that could contribute to SH, including chronic kidney disease (12/17 cats, 71%), hyperthyroidism (4/17, 23%) and functional adrenocortical mass secreting either aldosterone alone (1/17, 6%) or glucocorticoids, and possibly also aldosterone (1/17, 6%). Out of 17 cats, 15 (88%) were treated with amlodipine, and none were treated with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker. Mean SABP at the time of diagnosis of SH was 210 ± 23 mmHg and was significantly higher than the mean SABP at the first and second follow-up examinations after the introduction of amlodipine treatment (175 ± 33 mmHg, = 0.008 and 172 ± 26 mmHg, = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Cats with DM and SH should be evaluated for the presence of chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and functional adrenal masses. Treatment with amlodipine appears to be effective in lowering SABP in cats with DM and SH.