TABLE 2.
Serial changes in key outcome variables in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) eating nontraditional or traditional diets. Data are presented as mean ± SD or median (range). Significant P values are in bold
| Variable | P value (diet group × time) a | Nontraditional diet group | Traditional diet group | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 month | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | P value (within‐group change) b | 0 month | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | P value (within‐group change) b | ||
| n | — | 51 | 37 | 30 | 29 | — | 9 | 5 | 5 | 3 | — |
| Biomarkers | |||||||||||
| hs‐cTnI (ng/mL) | .06 | 0.670 (0.024‐5.95) | 0.306 (0.025‐2.411) | 0.394 (0.025‐3.270) | 0.374 (0.016‐3.296) | .03 | 0.892 (0.167‐11.299) | 0.642 (0.122‐0.695) | 0.650 (0.090‐1.514) | 0.178 (0.090‐0.757) | .59 |
| NT‐proBNP (pmol/L) | .13 | 4778 (461‐10 000 | 3015 (370‐10 000) | 3607 (363‐10 000) | 4061 (336‐10 000) | .28 | 7997 (2811‐10 000) | 3868 (1177‐8031) | 4536 (674‐10 000) | 4012 (666‐10 000) | .18 |
| Echocardiographic variables | |||||||||||
| FS (%) | .005 | 14.12 ± 5.22 | 16.26 ± 6.51 | 16.60 ± 6.54 | 18.70 ± 7.53 | <.001 | 17.85 ± 6.82 | 20.98 ± 8.42 | 14.95 ± 3.88 | 18.02 ± 4.51 | .58 |
| LVIDdN | .70 | 2.25 ± 0.39 | 2.11 ± 0.36 | 2.07 ± 0.35 | 2.04 ± 0.41 | .005 | 2.05 ± 0.19 | 1.98 ± 0.18 | 1.88 ± 0.14 | 1.79 ± 0.33 | .31 |
| LVIDsN | .60 | 1.80 ± 0.34 | 1.65 ± 0.35 | 1.63 ± 0.38 | 1.56 ± 0.39 | <.001 | 1.56 ± 0.21 | 1.44 ± 0.17 | 1.47 ± 0.12 | 1.36 ± 0.31 | .17 |
| LA : Ao | .23 | 2.17 ± 0.57 | 1.89 ± 0.55 | 1.74 ± 0.47 | 1.72 ± 0.52 | .004 | 2.21 ± 0.58 | 1.67 ± 0.60 | 1.86 ± 0.51 | 1.98 ± 1.17 | .86 |
Abbreviations: 2D, 2‐dimensional; FS, fractional shortening; hs‐cTnI, high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin I; LA : Ao, ratio of the left atrial to aortic diameters (2‐dimensional); LVIDdN, normalized left ventricular internal diameter in diastole; LVIDsN, normalized left ventricular internal diameter in systole; NT‐proBNP, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide.
Mixed models analysis of diet x time interaction for all 58 dogs (both non‐traditional and traditional diets) discharged from the hospital after adjustment for age, sex, body weight, intervention diet, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmia.
Comparing 0 to 9 months for the 29 dogs in the non‐traditional group and 3 dogs in the traditional group that completed the study.