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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage impairs racing perfor...
Equine veterinary journal2014; 47(3); 358-365; doi: 10.1111/evj.12368

Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage impairs racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) occurs commonly in Thoroughbred racehorses worldwide. While EIPH is believed to be an important cause of impaired performance in these horses, there is limited evidence from sufficiently powered studies to evaluate this association. Objective: To evaluate whether EIPH is associated with finishing position, distance finished behind race winners and differences in race earning among Thoroughbred horses racing in South Africa. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Methods: One thousand Thoroughbred horses racing in South Africa were enrolled prior to a single race and underwent tracheobronchoscopic examination within 2 h of racing. Three observers, blinded to the horses' identity and race performance, independently evaluated EIPH occurrence and severity using video recordings of the examination. Data were analysed using multivariable logistic and linear regression while controlling for important horse and race factors as potential confounding variables. Results: Overall, 68% of horses had evidence of EIPH (grade ≥1). Horses without evidence of EIPH (severity grade 0), when compared with horses with any evidence of EIPH (grade ≥1), were >2 times more likely to win races (odds ratio = 2.3; 95% confidence interval 1.4-3.7; P = 0.001), finished an average of one length ahead of horses with EIPH (P = 0.03), and were 2.5 times more likely to be in the highest decile in race earnings (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% CI 1.5-4.1, P<0.001). However, no association was identified regarding finishing in the top 3 positions or earning money when analysed as a continuous variable or analysed as any winnings vs. none. Conclusions: Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage was associated with impaired performance in Thoroughbred racehorses not medicated with furosemide and not using nasal dilator strips. These findings provide strong corroboration of previous research indicating that the occurrence of EIPH has a major impact on the ability of Thoroughbred racehorses to compete successfully as elite athletes.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2014-12-11 PubMed ID: 25290262DOI: 10.1111/evj.12368Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study explores how exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) negatively influences performance in Thoroughbred racehorses, utilizing evidence from horses racing in South Africa. The results displayed that horses unexposed to EIPH were significantly more successful concerning race wins and earnings.

Objective and Methods of the Study

  • The study’s purpose was to determine the correlation between Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) and factors such as ending position in a race, the distance covered as compared to race winners, and disparity in race earnings among Thoroughbred horses in South Africa.
  • The study began as a prospective cross-sectional study where 1,000 Thoroughbred horses were enlisted before a single race. Each horse had a tracheobronchoscopic examination about two hours post-racing.
  • The presence and intensity of EIPH were independently evaluated by three observers who were ignorant of the horse’s identity and race performance. The observers used video recordings of the tracheobronchoscopic examination as a reference.
  • The data collected was analyzed utilizing multivariable logistic and linear regression, thereby controlling any significant horse and race-related factors that could act as potential confounding variables.

Results of the study

  • Out of all the races, 68% of horses showed signs of EIPH (grade ≥1).
  • Horses that showed no signs of EIPH (severity grade 0) had a higher propensity to win compared to horses that had any degree of EIPH (grade ≥1). They were, on average, two times more likely to win races.
  • Moreover, these horses finished about one length ahead of the horses that experienced EIPH.
  • The horses not susceptible to EIPH proved 2.5 times more likely to belong to the top decile in race earnings.
  • There was no observed relation between the presence of EIPH and finishing among the top three positions, or with earnings as a continuous variable or when analyzed as any winnings vs. none.

Conclusions from the Research

  • The study concluded that Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage was indeed a factor leading to the declined performance in Thoroughbred racehorses that did not receive furosemide medication and did not use nasal dilator strips.
  • This result corroborates previous research indicating the detrimental impact of EIPH on the Thoroughbred racehorses’ ability to compete efficiently at elite levels.

Cite This Article

APA
Morley PS, Bromberek JL, Saulez MN, Hinchcliff KW, Guthrie AJ. (2014). Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage impairs racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J, 47(3), 358-365. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12368

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 3
Pages: 358-365

Researcher Affiliations

Morley, P S
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
Bromberek, J L
    Saulez, M N
      Hinchcliff, K W
        Guthrie, A J

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Cross-Sectional Studies
          • Female
          • Hemorrhage / etiology
          • Hemorrhage / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horses
          • Lung Diseases / etiology
          • Lung Diseases / veterinary
          • Male
          • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
          • Physical Exertion
          • Prospective Studies
          • Running
          • South Africa
          • Sports

          Citations

          This article has been cited 14 times.
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