Factors related to survival time in dogs with pulmonary hypertension secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease stage C

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). The aim of this study was to determine the survival time and to determine factors related to the survival time of dogs with PH secondary to DMVD stage C. A retrospective study was conducted in 37 dogs with PH secondary to DMVD stage C to analyse the median survival time and associated factors such as age, sex, breed, body weight, the presence of syncope, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, manifestation of congestive heart failure (CHF), vertebral heart score (VHS), the presence of left or right heart enlargement, probability of PH and medication. Data were analysed using the Log-Rank test and plotted with the Kaplan-Meier curve. The results showed that the median survival time of dogs with PH secondary to DMVD stage C was 368 days, and factors that shortened the median survival time of dogs with PH secondary to DMVD stage C were mixed breeds, VHS > 11.5, the presence of right heart enlargement, ascites and high probability of PH. Factors associated with an increased hazard of death were mixed breed dogs, dogs with right heart enlargement and ascites. These findings may be useful for the prognosis and management of dogs with PH secondary to DMVD stage C.