Epidemiologic study of risk factors for lower urinary tract diseases in cats

Objective - To determine proportional morbidity rates (PMR) and risk factor s for lower urinary tract diseases (LUTD) in cats. Design - Case-control study. Sample Population - Records of 22,908 cats with LUTD and 263,168 cats witho ut LUTD. Procedure - Data were retrieved from the Purdue Veterinary Medical Data Bas e. Descriptive statistics and univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess whether breed, age, sex, and neutering status were asso ciated with different causes of LUTD. Results - Mean PMR for LUTD irrespective of cause was 8/100 cats (range, 2 to 13/100 cats). Increased risk for urocystolithiasis (Russian Blue, Himala yan, and Persian cats), bacterial urinary tract infections (UTI; Abyssinian cats), congenital urinary tract defects (Manx and Persian cats), and urina ry incontinence (Manx cats) was detected. Cats between 2 and < 7 years of a ge had increased risk for urethral plugs, neurogenic disorders, congenital defects, and iatrogenic injuries. Cats between 4 and < 10 years of age had increased risk for urocystolithiasis, urethral obstructions, and idiopathic LUTD. Cats greater than or equal to 10 years of age had increased risk for UTI and neoplasia. Castrated males had increased risk for each cause of lU TD except UTI and incontinence. Spayed females had increased risk for urocy stolithiasis, UTI, and neoplasia. Sexually intact females had decreased ris k for each cause of LUTD except neurogenic disorders and iatrogenic injurie s. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance - Specific breed, age, sex, and neutering status may be associated with specific types of feline LUTD. Knowledge of patient risk factors for LUTD may facilitate development of surveillance st rategies that enhance earlier detection.