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Factors affecting prognosis and conversion in equine atrial fibrillation.
Abstract: Sixty-seven horses presented with atrial fibrillation (AF) from January 1, 1980 to August 1, 1986. All horses were evaluated for the type and severity of the underlying cardiac disease and the probable duration of the arrhythmia. Fifty-two (78%) of the horses were treated with quinidine sulfate and/or digoxin. The response to treatment was assessed in each horse. Horses were followed for periods extending from 8 months to 7 years. Standardbreds, young horses, and males predominated in the study group. There were more male horses (stallions and geldings) than mares. Most horses with AF had no evidence of other cardiac disease (56.7%). All performance horses without other cardiac disease were treated, and return to performance was significantly associated with conversion to sinus rhythm. Horses that did not convert with quinidine sulfate therapy, whose arrhythmia recurred, and that had side effects from quinidine sulfate therapy, had a longer history of poor performance. Tachycardia (heart rate greater than 60 beats/min) was significantly associated with the existence of congestive heart failure. The horses with congestive heart failure had a poor prognosis for life (7.7% survived) and a poor conversion to normal sinus rhythm (23.1%). Mitral regurgitation (19 horses) was the most common underlying cardiac disease. Tricuspid regurgitation (15 horses), aortic regurgitation (3 horses), myocardial dysfunction (3 horses), and atrial septal defect (1 horse) also were diagnosed. Congestive heart failure was common in this group of horses with underlying cardiac disease.
Publication Date: 1988-01-01 PubMed ID: 3221350DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1988.tb01970.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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 research investigates the impact of various factors on the prognosis and conversion of atrium fibrillation (AF), a heart condition, in horses. It uncovers associations between the horse breed, age, gender, underlying cardiac disease and heart rate with treatment response and post-treatment performance and survival rate.
Methodology
- The study was conducted on 67 horses with atrial fibrillation reported between January 1980 and August 1986.
- The factors considered were the type and severity of the heart disease underlying the AF, the probable duration of the arrhythmia, and the response to treatment. The treatments used were quinidine sulfate and/or digoxin.
- The horses were tracked and evaluated over different lengths of time, ranging from 8 months to 7 years.
Findings
- The most prominent group in the study were Standardbreds, young horses, and male horses, i.e., stallions and geldings.
- More than half of the horses presented with AF but did not present any other signs of heart disease.
- Among performance horses without additional cardiac disease, there was a significant association between successful treatment and returning to performance.
- Horses whose AF did not improve with quinidine sulfate therapy, or who experienced a recurrence of the arrhythmia, or suffered from side effects of the therapy had a more extended history of poor performance.
- Horses that showed fast heart rates (above 60 beats per minute) were significantly associated with congestive heart failure, a severe heart condition. Those with this condition had a poor prognosis for survival and conversion back to normal sinus rhythm.
- The most common underlying heart disease was mitral regurgitation, followed by tricuspid regurgitation, aortic regurgitation, myocardial dysfunction, and atrial septal defect.
- Congestive heart failure was a common condition in horses manifesting underlying heart disease.
Implications
- The findings of the study help to shed light on the factors affecting prognosis and conversion in horses with atrial fibrillation.
- These insights may guide veterinary healthcare providers in diagnosing and treating AF in horses more effectively, potentially helping to improve their performance, survival rates, and overall quality of life.
Cite This Article
APA
Reef VB, Levitan CW, Spencer PA.
(1988).
Factors affecting prognosis and conversion in equine atrial fibrillation.
J Vet Intern Med, 2(1), 1-6.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1988.tb01970.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Atrial Fibrillation / complications
- Atrial Fibrillation / drug therapy
- Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
- Female
- Heart Diseases / complications
- Heart Diseases / veterinary
- Heart Failure / complications
- Heart Failure / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Mitral Valve Insufficiency / complications
- Mitral Valve Insufficiency / veterinary
- Prognosis / veterinary
- Quinine / therapeutic use
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 18 times.- Schneider MJ, Piotrowski IL, Junge HK, van Steenkiste G, Vernemmen I, van Loon G, Schwarzwald CC. Application of Acoustic Cardiography in Assessment of Cardiac Function in Horses with Atrial Fibrillation Before and After Cardioversion. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 7;15(13).
- Huang YH, Lyle JV, Ab Razak AS, Nandi M, Marr CM, Huang CL, Aston PJ, Jeevaratnam K. Detecting paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from normal sinus rhythm in equine athletes using Symmetric Projection Attractor Reconstruction and machine learning. Cardiovasc Digit Health J 2022 Apr;3(2):96-106.
- Kjeldsen ST, Nissen SD, Buhl R, Hopster-Iversen C. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in Horses: Pathophysiology, Diagnostics and Clinical Aspects. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 10;12(6).
- Vernemmen I, Van Steenkiste G, Dufourni A, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Transvenous electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in horses: Horse and procedural factors correlated with success and recurrence. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Mar;36(2):758-769.
- Buhl R, Hesselkilde EM, Carstensen H, Hopster-Iversen C, van Loon G, Decloedt A, Van Steenkiste G, Marr CM, Reef VB, Schwarzwald CC, Mitchell KJ, Nostell K, Nogradi N, Nielsen SS, Carlson J, Platonov PG. Atrial fibrillatory rate as predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses treated medically or with electrical cardioversion. Equine Vet J 2022 Nov;54(6):1013-1022.
- Nath LC, Elliott AD, Weir J, Curl P, Rosanowski SM, Franklin S. Incidence, recurrence, and outcome of postrace atrial fibrillation in Thoroughbred horses. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Mar;35(2):1111-1120.
- Hesselkilde EZ, Carstensen H, Flethøj M, Fenner M, Kruse DD, Sattler SM, Tfelt-Hansen J, Pehrson S, Braunstein TH, Carlson J, Platonov PG, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Longitudinal study of electrical, functional and structural remodelling in an equine model of atrial fibrillation. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Oct 21;19(1):228.
- Broux B, De Clercq D, Vera L, Ven S, Deprez P, Decloedt A, van Loon G. Can heart rate variability parameters derived by a heart rate monitor differentiate between atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm?. BMC Vet Res 2018 Oct 25;14(1):320.
- Carstensen H, Hesselkilde EZ, Fenner M, Loft-Andersen AV, Flethøj M, Kanters JK, Sattler SM, Tfelt-Hansen J, Pehrson S, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Time-dependent antiarrhythmic effects of flecainide on induced atrial fibrillation in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Sep;32(5):1708-1717.
- McGurrin MKJ. The diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation in the horse. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:83-90.
- Decloedt A, Broux B, De Clercq D, Deprez P, Van Steenkiste G, Vera L, Ven S, van Loon G. Effect of sotalol on heart rate, QT interval, and atrial fibrillation cycle length in horses with atrial fibrillation. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):815-821.
- Bozorgmanesh R, Magdesian KG, Estell KE, Stern JA, Swain EA, Griffiths LG. Atrial Fibrillation in Eight New World Camelids. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jan-Feb;30(1):335-8.
- Decloedt A, Schwarzwald CC, De Clercq D, Van Der Vekens N, Pardon B, Reef VB, van Loon G. Risk factors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation in horses after cardioversion to sinus rhythm. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):946-53.
- Haugaard MM, Pehrson S, Carstensen H, Flethøj M, Hesselkilde EZ, Praestegaard KF, Diness JG, Grunnet M, Jespersen T, Buhl R. Antiarrhythmic and electrophysiologic effects of flecainide on acutely induced atrial fibrillation in healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):339-47.
- Reef VB, Bonagura J, Buhl R, McGurrin MK, Schwarzwald CC, van Loon G, Young LE. Recommendations for management of equine athletes with cardiovascular abnormalities. J Vet Intern Med 2014 May-Jun;28(3):749-61.
- De Clercq D, Decloedt A, Sys SU, Verheyen T, Van Der Vekens N, van Loon G. Atrial fibrillation cycle length and atrial size in horses with and without recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Mar-Apr;28(2):624-9.
- Scheck JL. Treatment of an ocular squamous cell carcinoma in a stallion with atrial fibrillation. Can Vet J 2005 Oct;46(10):922-4.
- Gehlen H, Stadler P. Comparison of systolic cardiac function before and after treatment of atrial fibrillation in horses with and without additional cardiac valve insufficiencies. Vet Res Commun 2004 May;28(4):317-29.
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