Epidemiologic study of relationships between consumption of commercial canned food and risk of hyperthyroidism in cats

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 224; no. 6; pp. 879 - 886
• Main Authors: Edinboro, C.H, Scott-Moncrieff, J.C, Janovitz, E, Thacker, H.L, Glickman, L.T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.03.2004
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aging - physiology; Animal Feed - adverse effects; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Case-Control Studies; Cat Diseases - epidemiology; Cats; Female; Food Preservation; Hyperthyroidism - epidemiology; Hyperthyroidism - veterinary; Logistic Models; Male; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Factors
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.2004.224.879

To determine whether the increasing prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism is the result of aging of the cat population and whether consumption of canned foods at various times throughout life is associated with increased risk of hyperthyroidism. Retrospective and case-control studies. Medical records of 169,576 cats, including 3,570 cats with hyperthyroidism, evaluated at 9 veterinary school hospitals during a 20-year period, and 109 cats with hyperthyroidism (cases) and 173 cats without hyperthyroidism (controls). Age-adjusted hospital prevalence of hyperthyroidism was calculated by use of Veterinary Medical Database records. On the basis of owners' questionnaire responses, logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between consumption of canned food and development of hyperthyroidism. Age-specific hospital prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism increased significantly from 1978 to 1997. Overall, consumption of pop-top canned (vs dry) food at various times throughout life and each additional year of age were associated with greater risk of developing hyperthyroidism. In female cats, increased risk was associated with consumption of food packaged in pop-top cans or in combinations of pop-top and non-pop-top cans. In male cats, increased risk was associated with consumption of food packaged in pop-top cans and age. These findings suggest that the increasing prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism is not solely the result of aging of the cat population and that canned foods may play a role.