Effect of racing on cardiac troponin I concentration and associations with cardiac rhythm disturbances in Standardbred racehorses.
Abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates intense exercise can be associated with myocardial damage. Investigating the impact of maximal effort on myocardium and exploring possible association of injury with rhythm disturbance requires a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assay. The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the effect of racing on serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in Standardbred horses using a high-sensitivity assay; (2) to determine the 99th percentile of cTnI in healthy horses and investigate the effect of demographic variables on cTnI prevailing pre-race in Standardbred horses using a validated high-sensitivity assay and a contemporary assay, and; (3) to explore associations between exercise-associated arrhythmia and cTnI concentration. Methods: Racehorses (n = 145). Methods: ≤ 2 h pre-race, cTnI concentrations were measured in 158 race starts. Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring was applied during racing and race recovery and screened for complex ventricular arrhythmia. Associations between cTnI prevailing before racing concentration, age, sex, and gait were investigated. Demographic and performance variables were evaluated for associations with cTnI concentration post-race and rhythm disturbance. Results: Incidence of arrhythmia was 11.6% (16 horses). A significant increase in median (interquartile range) cTnI concentration of 1.36 (0.49-2.81) ng/L was found post-race (p < 0.0001). Serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration prevailing pre-race was positively associated with increasing age, and gait. Serum cardiac troponin I prevailing post-race was positively associated with concentration prevailing pre-race. Interaction between arrhythmia and finishing distanced revealed horses finishing distanced and experiencing arrhythmia displayed higher cTnI release than with the presence of either alone. Conclusions: Racing increased cTnI concentration. Horses finishing distanced and also exhibiting arrhythmia may be experiencing myocardial compromise.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2021-02-24 PubMed ID: 33789181DOI: 10.1016/j.jvc.2021.02.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research study investigates the impact of intense exercise, specifically racing, on the heart health of Standardbred horses. The study uses a high-sensitivity assay to examine the effect of racing on serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a marker of heart damage, in horses and to explore the association between exercise-induced arrhythmia and cTnI concentration.
Study Objectives and Methods
- The study aimed to assess the effect of racing on serum cTnI concentrations in Standardbred horses. It also sought to determine the 99th percentile of cTnI in healthy horses and explored how demographic variables impact pre-race cTnI levels.
- A total of 145 racehorses were included in the study. The researchers measured cTnI concentrations within two hours before 158 race starts.
- Heart activity during racing and race recovery was tracked using electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring. This data was checked for complex ventricular arrhythmia.
- The researchers also studied associations between pre-race cTnI levels, age, sex, and gait. They examined the relationships between demographic and performance variables, post-race cTnI levels, and rhythm disturbance.
Results of the Study
- The study found that 11.6% (16 horses) showed symptoms of arrhythmia. There was a significant increase in cTnI concentration post-race, indicating that racing increased cTnI concentration and potentially heart damage.
- The study also discovered positive associations between increasing age and gait and pre-race cTnI levels, and between pre-race and post-race cTnI concentrations.
- Notably, horses that finished distanced and also exhibited arrhythmia displayed higher cTnI release than those displaying just one of these factors. This indicates that the combined presence of these conditions may suggest a higher level of myocardial stress or damage.
Conclusion of the Study
- The study concluded that racing does increase cTnI concentration in Standardbred horses, potentially indicating heart damage from the intense exercise. Moreover, it found that horses which both finished distanced and showed signs of arrhythmia could be experiencing myocardial compromise, which could signal a potential heart health issue.
Cite This Article
APA
Rossi TM, Kavsak PA, Maxie MG, Pearl DL, Pyle WG, Physick-Sheard PW.
(2021).
Effect of racing on cardiac troponin I concentration and associations with cardiac rhythm disturbances in Standardbred racehorses.
J Vet Cardiol, 35, 14-24.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvc.2021.02.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address: rossit@uoguelph.ca.
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, HSC-2N16, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
- Animal Health Laboratory, Laboratory Services Division, University of Guelph, Laboratory Services Division, Building 89, 419 Gordon St., Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
- Electrocardiography
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Running
- Troponin I
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interests Dr. Kavsak has received grants/honoraria/consultant/advisor fees from Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Point of Care, Beckman Coulter, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Randox Laboratories, Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health. He is listed as an inventor on patents filed by McMaster University related to laboratory testing in acute cardiac care. No funding was received from the manufacturers of the assays used in this study. No other authors have a conflict of interest to declare. Age: in years; finished distanced: horse finishes more than 35 lengths behind the winner; horse finish time: presented in seconds; parked: horse cannot find a position along the rail and is forced to race outside those on the inside; purse: in Canadian dollars; sample time: time of sampling as elapsed time (>or < 1 h) from race end; SD: standard deviation. cTnI: cardiac troponin I; CI: confidence interval; finished distanced: horse finishes more than 35 lengths behind the winner; finish time in seconds; parked: horse cannot find a position along the rail and is forced to race outside those on the inside; p-value of ≤0.2 was considered the cut-off for inclusion in the multivariable model. purse in Canadian dollars; age in years; ∗p-value results from partial F test for categorical variables.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Foreman JH, Tennent-Brown BS, Oyama MA, Sisson DD. Plasma Cardiac Troponin-I Concentration in Normal Horses and in Horses with Cardiac Abnormalities. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 3;15(1).
- Khamis TA, Shawaf T, El-Deeb W, Almubarak A, Al-Ali MA, Almuaqqil M, AlAiyan A, Homeida AM. Preliminary study on heart response and locomotor parameters in Donkeys (Equus asinus) during exercise using fitness tracker (Equimetre). Sci Rep 2024 Sep 27;14(1):22211.
- Giers J, Bartel A, Kirsch K, Müller SF, Horstmann S, Gehlen H. Blood-Based Markers for Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Function in Eventing Horses before and after Cross-Country Rides and How They Are Influenced by Plasma Volume Shift. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 5;13(19).
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