Anemia Is Associated with Decreased Survival Time in Dogs with Lymphoma

Anemia is a common complication in human patients with neoplasia and has been associated with decreased survival time and a poorer quality of life. The presence of anemia at diagnosis is negatively associated with survival and remission times in dogs with lymphoma, but not in dogs with osteosarcoma. Eighty-four dogs with lymphoma and 91 dogs with osteosarcoma that presented for treatment at the Animal Cancer Center, Colorado State University. Retrospective, case-control study. Medical records were reviewed to determine the presence or absence of anemia (PCV < 40) at initial presentation. Median survival and remission times were identified by the Kaplan-Meier product limit method and the association between anemia and survival was determined by a multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Cancer-related anemia is more frequent in dogs with lymphoma than in control dogs or dogs with osteosarcoma. Dogs with lymphoma and anemia had a significantly decreased survival time compared with dogs without anemia. There was no effect of anemia on remission time in dogs with lymphoma. Anemic dogs with osteosarcoma did not have decreased survival or remission time compared with nonanemic dogs with osteosarcoma. Shortened survival time in dogs with lymphoma and anemia at initial presentation has important prognostic significance. Understanding cancer-related anemia in dogs might offer new opportunities to improve quality of life and survival times in these patients.