Changes over time in echocardiographic measurements in young Standardbred racehorses undergoing training and racing and association with racing performance.
Abstract: To evaluate changes over time in echocardiographic measurements in young Standardbred racehorses undergoing training and racing and determine whether there was any relationship between cardiac dimensions and racing performance. Methods: Longitudinal observational study. Methods: 103 horses. Methods: 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography was performed 4 times at 6-month intervals. Results: Significant cardiac enlargement took place during the study period as indicated by increases in left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd), estimated left ventricular muscle mass (LV mass), and mean wall thickness attributable to eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Estimated body weight was positively correlated with left ventricular size, and males had significantly larger LVIDd and LV mass than did females. Horses that were racing regularly had larger LVIDd and LV mass than did unraced horses. A significant relationship between left ventricular size and racing performance was observed. The relationship was strongest at the time of the fourth examination. Conclusions: Results suggest that age must be taken into account when interpreting results of echocardiography in young Standardbred racehorses because significant cardiac enlargement takes place with age and training. A larger heart was found in horses that were racing, and size of the heart was correlated with athletic performance of the horse.
Publication Date: 2005-06-07 PubMed ID: 15934256DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.226.1881Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article studies the changes in heart size and performance of young Standardbred racehorses throughout their training and racing periods and explores the correlation between these alterations and their racing performance.
Study Objective
- The purpose of this study was to monitor and evaluate changes over time in the heart size measured through echocardiographic techniques in young Standardbred racehorses as they undergo training and racing. The research also aimed to find any relationship between the cardiac dimensions and the racing performance of the horses.
Research Methodology
- This was a longitudinal observational study carried out on a cohort of 103 racehorses.
- 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography were used as the primary methods to measure the hearts of these horses.
- This echocardiography was performed four times at six-month intervals to record any changes over time.
Results
- The study found significant cardiac enlargement in horses during the study period, measured by increases in left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd), estimated left ventricular muscle mass (LV mass), and mean wall thickness. This cardiac enlargement was primarily due to eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy.
- There was a positive correlation between the estimated body weight and the size of the horses’ left ventricle.
- On comparing the sexes, male horses had significantly larger left ventricular dimensions and mass than did female counterparts.
- Horses that were actively racing regularly had considerably larger LVIDd and LV mass compared to unraced horses.
- A significant relationship was observed between left ventricular size and racing performance, with the connection being strongest at the time of the fourth examination.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that the age of young Standardbred racehorses is a significant factor to consider when interpreting echocardiography results, mainly since significant cardiac enlargement occurs with age and prolonged training period.
- The research also highlights that racing horses tend to have larger hearts, and the size of a horse’s heart correlates with their athletic performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Buhl R, Ersbøll AK, Eriksen L, Koch J.
(2005).
Changes over time in echocardiographic measurements in young Standardbred racehorses undergoing training and racing and association with racing performance.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 226(11), 1881-1887.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.226.1881 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 88-Dyrlaegevej, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Body Weight
- Echocardiography / methods
- Echocardiography / veterinary
- Female
- Heart / anatomy & histology
- Heart / physiology
- Heart Function Tests / veterinary
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Organ Size / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Sex Factors
Citations
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