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Factors associated with outcome and gradual improvement in survival over time in 1065 equine neonates admitted to an intensive care unit.
Abstract: There is a paucity of information regarding the association between common disorders and outcome over time in a large population of ill equine neonates. Objective: To describe the relative frequency of neonatal disorders in a large population of foals admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, to determine the disorders and factors associated with nonsurvival and determine if the outcome of ill neonatal foals has improved over time. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Cases were selected from equine neonatal (≤14 days of age) admissions between 1982 and 2008. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the disorders, clinical parameters and laboratory variables associated with nonsurvival or natural death and assess survival over time after accounting for potential confounding variables. Results: A total of 1065 foals were included in the study. Overall, 775 of 1065 (72.8%) foals survived to be discharged from the hospital and 290 (27.2%) foals were nonsurvivors. Age at admission, sepsis score, proportion of foals with positive blood cultures and proportion of survivors were significantly different (P<0.001) between primary disease categories. Variables retained in the multivariable model for nonsurvival included positive blood culture, neutrophils <2.28 × 10 /l, temperature ≤37.6°C, bicarbonate, PCO , presence of infectious orthopaedic disorders and sepsis score. The adjusted odds of survival for foals admitted in the 2000s were approximately 3.4 (95% CI = 1.9-6.0, P<0.001) times higher than that of foals admitted in the 1980s. Conclusions: Primary disorders, sepsis, temperature, acid base status and neutropenia are the main factors that affect outcome in this population of equine neonates. The survival of foals admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit has increased dramatically over a 26 year period.
Publication Date: PubMed ID: 26538009 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.
Summary
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The research paper highlights the factors associated with the gradual improvement in the survival rate of 1065 equine neonates admitted to an intensive care unit over a period of time. The study also uncovers the correlation between prevalent disorders and the fate of these equine neonates.
Objective and Methodology
- The objective of the study was threefold: to understand the frequency of neonatal disorders in a large group of foals admitted to a neonatal ICU, identify factors that contribute to their mortality, and analyze if the outcome of their health has seen a significant improvement over time.
- The research was retrospective in nature where cases from equine neonatal admissions, aged up to 14 days, between the years 1982 and 2008 were selected.
- The researchers employed multivariable logistic regression to pinpoint the disorders, clinical parameters and laboratory variables that shared a relationship with the nonsurvival or natural death, and to evaluate the survival rate over time after accounting for potential confounding variables.
Results
- The study consisted of 1065 foals. Of these, 72.8% survived and were discharged from the hospital, whereas 27.2% did not survive.
- There was a statistically significant difference in terms of age at admission, sepsis score, the proportion of foals with positive blood cultures, and the proportion of survivors, among different primary disease categories.
- Notably, factors linked to nonsurvival included positive blood culture, a low count of neutrophils, low temperature, bicarbonate levels, the presence of infectious orthopaedic disorders, and sepsis score.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that the primary disorders, sepsis, body temperature, acid-base status, and neutropenia are the key determinants of the outcome in this group of equine neonates.
- Interestingly, the odds of survival for foals admitted in the 2000s were approximately 3.4 times higher than the foals admitted in the 1980s.
- Thus, the research demonstrates a significant increase in the survival rate of equine neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care over a 26-year period.
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Factors associated with outcome and gradual improvement in survival over time in 1065 equine neonates admitted to an intensive care unit.
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Citations
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