Feline Heartworm in Clinical Settings in a High Canine Prevalence Area.

Heartworm (HTW) infection in cats is associated with persistent pulmonary pathology, even when clinical signs are absent. Treatment options for cats are limited once infected, making prevention an important topic for discussion with cat owners. In Brazil, tests to detect feline HTW infections are unavailable, likely leading to an underestimation of its impact on the wellbeing of cats. The present study investigated the seroprevalence of HTW antigen in cats living in an area with high canine HTW prevalence and investigated risk factors and clinical signs associated with HTW disease in cats from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Clinical examinations were conducted, and serological evaluations performed with a point-of-care test (SNAP® Feline Triple® Test, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.). A total of 586 cats were examined. The HTW antigen seroprevalence was 1.2%. Heartworm positive results were significantly associated with vomiting and abnormal lung sounds. Results from this study indicate that cats residing in areas of high canine HTW prevalence should have HTW disease as a differential diagnosis when presenting with compatible clinical signs. Veterinarians should prioritize client education and promote regular use of effective prophylaxis to protect feline health.

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE: IMPACT ON SCORES OF QUALITY OF LIFE, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IN PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN BRAZIL.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease frequently affects patients at working age, compromising their quality of life in several levels: physical, psychological, familial and social. Few studies have evaluated the impact of Inflammatory bowel disease on quality of life, anxiety and depression in Brazilian patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate quality of life and its correlation with psychological aspects of patients with inflammatory bowel disease through the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. METHODS: Cross-sectional study; Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, Short Form-36 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were applied to consecutive outpatients in a tertiary referral center for inflammatory bowel disease. Harvey-Bradshaw Index and Truelove scores were used to evaluate Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis activity. Sample calculation: 113 patients for a significance level of 5%, power of 90% and a correlation coefficient of at least 0.3 between scales. Statistical analysis: Student-t test, Pearson and Spearman correlations. RESULTS: One hundred twenty patients participated in the study; mean age: 41.7 years; female: 58.3%; Crohn's Disease: 69 patients. No low scores for quality of life were found across the four Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire domains; the Short Form-36 showed low scores in physical limitations (47.2±42.4) and emotional aspects (49.8±43.4); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score presented a mean of 9.5±2.7 for anxiety and 8.7±2.0 for depression. Quality of life was decreased and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale did show increased indices of anxiety and depression, in both diseases only when clinically active. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale showed that outpatients of a tertiary care center for inflammatory bowel disease in Brazil presented good quality of life. The worst quality of life was associated with the intensity of the disease activity.

Doença inflamatória do intestino: impacto no score da qualidade de vida, depressão e ansiedade em pacientes atendidos em um centro de atendimento terciário no Brasil / Inflammatory bowel disease: impact on scores of quality of life, depression and anxiety in patients attending a tertiary care center in brazil

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease frequently affects patients at working age, compromising their quality of life in several levels: physical, psychological, familial and social. Few studies have evaluated the impact of Inflammatory bowel disease on quality of life, anxiety and depression in Brazilian patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate quality of life and its correlation with psychological aspects of patients with inflammatory bowel disease through the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. METHODS: Cross-sectional study; Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, Short Form-36 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were applied to consecutive outpatients in a tertiary referral center for inflammatory bowel disease. Harvey-Bradshaw Index and Truelove scores were used to evaluate Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis activity. Sample calculation: 113 patients for a significance level of 5%, power of 90% and a correlation coefficient of at least 0.3 between scales. Statistical analysis: Student-t test, Pearson and Spearman correlations. RESULTS: One hundred twenty patients participated in the study; mean age: 41.7 years; female: 58.3%; Crohn's Disease: 69 patients. No low scores for quality of life were found across the four Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire domains; the Short Form-36 showed low scores in physical limitations (47.2±42.4) and emotional aspects (49.8±43.4); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score presented a mean of 9.5±2.7 for anxiety and 8.7±2.0 for depression. Quality of life was decreased and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale did show increased indices of anxiety and depression, in both diseases only when clinically active. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale showed that outpatients of a tertiary care center for inflammatory bowel disease in Brazil presented good quality of life. The worst quality of life was associated with the intensity of the disease activity.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: A doença inflamatória do intestino afeta frequentemente os pacientes em idade de trabalho, comprometendo a qualidade de vida em vários níveis: físico, psicológico, familiar e social. Poucos estudos avaliaram o impacto da doença inflamatória do intestino na qualidade de vida, ansiedade e depressão em pacientes brasileiros. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida e sua correlação com os aspectos psicológicos dos pacientes com doença inflamatória intestinal através do Questionário da Doença Inflamatória do Intestino e da Escala de Ansiedade e Depressão Hospitalar. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, com uma amostra de pacientes consecutivos, nos quais foram aplicados os questionários de perguntas fechadas sobre Qualidade de Vida através dos questionários: Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire, Short Form Health Survey 36; e ansiedade e depressão: Hospital Anxiety and Depression em suas versões validadas para a língua portuguesa praticada no Brasil. Foram aplicados em pacientes ambulatoriais consecutivos em um centro de referência terciária para doença inflamatória intestinal. Os índices Harvey-Bradshaw Index e Truelove foram utilizados para avaliar a doença de Crohn e a atividade da colite ulcerativa. Cálculo da amostra: 113 pacientes para um nível de significância de 5%, força de 90% e um coeficiente de correlação de pelo menos 0,3 entre as escalas. Análise estatística: teste Student-t, correlações Pearson e Spearman. RESULTADOS: Cento e vinte pacientes participaram do estudo; idade média: 41,7 anos; feminino: 58,3%; doença de Crohn: 69 pacientes. Não foram encontrados escores baixos para a qualidade de vida nos quatro domínios do questionário da Inflammatory Bowel Disease; O Short-Form-36 mostrou baixa pontuação em limitações físicas (47,2±42,4) e aspectos emocionais (49,8±43,4); O índice da escala Hospital Anxiety and Depression apresentou uma média de 9,5±2,7 para ansiedade e 8,7±2,0 para depressão. A qualidade de vida foi diminuída e a Hospital Anxiety and Depression mostrou índices aumentados de ansiedade e depressão, em ambas as doenças somente quando clinicamente ativo. CONCLUSÃO: O questionário da Inflammatory Bowel Disease e a Escala de Hospital Anxiety and Depression mostraram que os pacientes ambulatoriais de um centro de cuidados terciários para doença inflamatória do intestino no Brasil apresentaram boa qualidade de vida. A pior qualidade de vida foi associada à intensidade da atividade da doença.