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Equine veterinary journal2022; 55(5); 738-746; doi: 10.1111/evj.13895

Frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in horses during straight and untethered swimming.

Abstract: Cardiac arrhythmias have not been previously reported in horses while swimming. Objective: To describe the type and frequency of encountered arrhythmias during repetitive swimming cycles. Methods: Descriptive observational study. Methods: Sixteen horses swam five pool lengths (75 m), each separated by an active recovery walk. Continuous electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded (n = 80) and analysed during the pre-swim, swim and active-recovery periods. Arrhythmias were categorised as sinus arrhythmia (SA), sinus block, sinus pause (compensatory and non-compensatory), second degree atrioventricular block (2AVB) for physiological arrhythmias, supraventricular premature depolarisation (SVPD) and ventricular premature depolarisation (VPD) for non-physiological arrhythmias. A linear mixed-effects model was used to examine the effects of repetitive swim lengths on arrhythmias and swimming parameters. Data were reported as median [interquartile range]. Results: Fifteen horses (94%) experienced at least one arrhythmia; however, the frequency remained low and 2AVB were only observed during the pre-swim period. The swimming heart rate (HR) was 162 bpm [141;173]. Sinus blocks, sinus pauses, SA, SVPD and VPD were all recorded at least once during swimming. Except for one VPD couplet, all premature depolarisations were isolated. During active-recovery, the HR was 105 bpm [103;106], with SA observed in 13 horses (81%), isolated SVPD in six horses (38%), sinus pause in one horse (6%) but no VPD present. Conclusions: Limited number of horses precluding population prevalence assessment. Conclusions: High-quality underwater ECGs were acquired in swimming horses for the first time. The frequency of arrhythmias remained low and rare pathological arrhythmias were observed during repetitive swimming and active-recovery cycles. Swimming with active-recovery periods is not a high-risk cardio-arrhythmic exercise. Unassigned: Arritmias cardiacas no han sido previamente descritas en caballos nadando. Objective: Describir el tipo y frecuencia de arritmias encontradas durante ciclos de natación repetitivos. DISEÑO DEL ESTUDIO: Estudio descriptivo observacional. MÉTODOS: Diez y seis caballos nadaron cinco largos de piscina (75 m), cada uno separado por una caminata de recuperación. Electrocardiogramas continuos (ECGs) fueron grabados (n = 80) y analizados durante el pre-natación, natación y periodos de recuperación activa. Las arritmias fueron categorizadas en arritmia sinusal (SA), bloqueo sinusal, pausa sinusal (compensatoria y no compensatoria), bloqueo atrio ventricular de segundo grado (2AVB) para las arritmias fisiológicas, y en despolarización supraventricular prematura (SVPD) y despolarización ventricular prematura (VPD) para las arritmias no fisiológicas. Se utilizo un modelo linear de efecto mixto para examinar los efectos de nadar largos de piscina en forma repetitiva sobre las arritmias y parámetros de natación. Los datos fueron reportados como mediana [rango intercuartil]. Results: Quince caballos (94%) sufrieron de al menos una arritmia, sin embargo la frecuencia permaneció baja. 2AVB fueron observados solo durante el periodo de pre-natación. La frecuencia cardiaca durante la natación (HR) fue de 162 bpm [141;173]. Bloqueos sinusales, pausas sinusales, SA, SVPD y VPD fueron todos registrados por lo menos una vez durante la natación. Excepto por un par de VPD, todas las despolarizaciones fueron aisladas. Durante la recuperación activa, la HR fue de 105 bpm [103;106], con SA observado en 13 caballos (81%), SVPD aislados en 6 caballos (38%), pausa sinusal en 1 caballos (6%) pero ningún VPD presente. Unassigned: Número limitado de caballos lo que imposibilita hacer un asesoramiento de la prevalencia en la población. CONCLUSIÓN E IMPORTANCIA CLÍNICA: Por primera vez, se adquirieron ECGs debajo del agua de alta calidad en caballos nadando. La frecuencia de las arritmias permaneció baja y se observaron arritmias patológicas raramente durante la natación repetitiva y los ciclos de recuperación activa. Nadar con periodos de recuperación activa no es un ejercicio de alto riesgo cardio-arrítmico.
© 2022 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-03 PubMed ID: 36273248DOI: 10.1111/evj.13895Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Observational Study
  • Veterinary
  • 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 paper investigates the occurrence and frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in horses while they swim. Through observing sixteen horses during and after swimming, the study provides insight into whether swimming is a high-risk cardio-arrhythmic exercise for this animal.

Research Objective

The paper’s main objective is to describe the type and frequency of arrhythmias in horses during repetitive swimming sessions. In the past, cardiac arrhythmias have not been reported in horses during swimming. This research is an attempt to fill this knowledge gap.

Research Methods

  • Sixteen horses were selected to swim five pool lengths of 75 meters each time, with each swim separated by a recovery walk.
  • The recorded continuous electrocardiograms (ECGs) were analyzed during pre-swim, swim, and active-recovery periods.
  • The arrhythmias were categorized into sinus arrhythmia (SA), sinus block, sinus pause (both compensatory and non-compensatory), second degree atrioventricular block (2AVB) for physiological arrhythmias, and supraventricular premature depolarisation (SVPD) and ventricular premature depolarisation (VPD) for non-physiological arrhythmias.
  • A linear mixed-effects model was employed to study the effects of repetitive swimming lengths on arrhythmias and other swimming parameters.

Research Findings

  • Among the 16 horses, 15 (94%) experienced at least one type of arrhythmia. However, the frequency of these arrhythmias was low.
  • All types of arrhythmias, be it sinus blocks, sinus pauses, SA, SVPD, or VPD were recorded at least once during swimming. Except for one VPD coupling, all premature depolarisations were isolated incidents.
  • During the active recovery phase, 13 horses (81%) displayed SA, six (38%) showed isolated SVPD, and one (6%) exhibited sinus pause. No VPD was recorded in this period.

Research Conclusion

The research concluded that despite the existence of arrhythmias in horses during swimming, the frequency remained low. Even rare pathological arrhythmias were observed during the repetitive swimming and active-recovery cycles. Thus, the study proposes that swimming along with active recovery periods does not pose a high-risk cardio-arrhythmic exercise for horses. The study was, however, limited by the relatively small number of horses utilized in the experiment, which impacts the assessment of population prevalence. For the first time, the research acquired high-quality underwater ECGs in swimming horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Santosuosso E, David F, Massie S, Filho SA, McCrae P, Johnson S, Leguillette R. (2022). Frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in horses during straight and untethered swimming. Equine Vet J, 55(5), 738-746. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13895

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 5
Pages: 738-746

Researcher Affiliations

Santosuosso, Emma
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
David, Florent
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Massie, Shannon
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Filho, Silvio A
  • Al Shaqab - Endurance Department, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
McCrae, Persephone
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Johnson, Sarah
  • Equine Veterinary Medical Center, Member of Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
Leguillette, Renaud
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Swimming
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
  • Electrocardiography / veterinary
  • Heart Block / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases

Grant Funding

  • RG19_FD1 / Qatar Foundation
  • University of Calgary

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Leguillette R, McCrae P, Massie S, Filho SA, Bayly W, David F. Workload and spirometry associated with untethered swimming in horses. BMC Vet Res 2024 Jul 19;20(1):327.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04143-3pubmed: 39030565google scholar: lookup
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