Abstract: Equine asthma in severe form (severe equine asthma [sEA]) shares remarkable similarities with human asthma. Human studies detected changes in the autonomic nervous system function in asthmatic patients based on heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. Methods: Observational study. Objective: To investigate the relationship between sEA and HRV in horses. Methods: Twenty horses diagnosed with sEA and 20 asymptomatic (non-sEA) horses were investigated. SEA horses showed clinical signs. The RR intervals of the ECG were recorded for 1 h at rest between 9 AM and 11 AM using a heart rate (HR) monitor. HRV data were calculated using Kubios software. Parameters recorded for the sEA and non-sEA groups were compared using one-way MANOVA model. The significance level was set at α = 0.05. Results: SD2 (mean 99.6 ± SD 25.3 vs. 42.5 ± 17.1), SDNN (82.7 ± 20.7 vs. 41.3 ± 14.3), TINN (398.1 ± 104.9 vs. 209.3 ± 71.9), SD2/SD1 ratio (1.7 ± 0.2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3), Total power (4740.2 ± 1977.9 vs. 1503.0 ± 1179.3), LF (2415.3 ± 1072.4 vs. 707.4 ± 649.9), SD1 (60.9 ± 15.9 vs. 39.2 ± 14.1), RMSSD (86.0 ± 22.6 vs. 55.3 ± 19.8) and HF (1575.8 ± 902.5 vs. 578.1 ± 491.1) were lower in sEA horses compared with the non-sEA horses (p < 0.01 for each variable). SD2, SDNN, TNN, the SD2/SD1 ratio and Total power showed the greatest discriminatory power in differentiating the sEA and non-sEA groups. Conclusions: Small sample size. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that like humans, asthmatic horses show an overall reduction in autonomic control. A relative increase of the parasympathetic modulation of the heart was also observed. After further investigations, HRV measurement might be a non-invasive approach to monitor autonomic nervous system responses of sEA horses. 背景: 马哮喘(EA)严重影响约10%‐15%的马匹。马哮喘EA与人类哮喘非常相似。人类研究通过心率变异性(HRV)分析检测到哮喘患者自主神经系统功能的变化。 研究设计: 观察性研究。 研究目标: 本研究旨在探讨休闲骑乘温血马中,严重马哮喘(sEA)与心率变异性(HRV)之间的关系。 方法: 对20匹被诊断为sEA的马匹和20匹无症状(非sEA)马匹进行调研。调研期间,sEA马匹表现出临床症状且未接受治疗。使用心率(HR)监测仪ECG,在上午9点至11点之间,记录1小时的RR间歇期。使用Kubios软件计算心率变异性数据。根据单因素多元方差分析模型,比较sEA组和非sEA组的记录参数。显著性水平设为α=0.05。 结果: 方差分析显示,sEA马的SD2(mean 99.6±s.d. 25.3 vs. 42.5±17.1)、SDNN(82.7±20.7 vs. 41.3±14.3)、TINN(398.1±104.9 vs. 209.3±71.9)、SD2/SD1比值(1.7±0.2 vs. 1.1±0.3)、TF(4740.2±1977.9 vs. 1503.0±1179.3)、LF(2415.3±1072.4 vs. 707.4±649.9)、SD1(60.9±15.9 vs. 39.2±14.1)、RMSSD(86.0±22.6 vs. 55.3±19.8)和HF(1575.8±902.5 vs. 578.1±491.1)均低于非sEA马(各变量p<0.01)。其中SD2、SDNN、TNN、SD2/SD1比值和TF,在区分sEA和非sEA群体方面,显示出最大的鉴别能力。 主要局限性: 样本量较小。 结论: 本研究结果表明,与人类相似,哮喘马匹的自主神经系统功能整体下降。我们还观察到心脏的副交感调节相对增加。进一步研究后,心率变异性测量可能成为一种无创的监测方法,用于监测sEA马对不同疗法的自主神经系统反应。.
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.
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 article investigates the relationship between severe equine asthma (sEA) and heart rate variability (HRV) in horses. The study suggests that horses with asthma exhibit a reduction in autonomic control, similar to human patients with asthma.
Introduction and Objective
The research seeks to investigate the link between severe equine asthma and heart rate variability in horses. This investigation is prompted by similarities observed between asthma in horses and humans.
Given that human studies have detected changes in the autonomic nervous system function in asthmatic patients based on heart rate variability analysis, the study aims to see if similar patterns occur in horses.
Methods
The study was an observational one where 20 horses diagnosed with severe equine asthma and 20 horses without any disease symptoms were selected for the experiment.
The heart rates of these horses were recorded for one hour at rest using a heart rate monitor. This recording was done between 9 a.m and 11 a.m.
The recorded ECG’s RR intervals were then computed using Kubios software to get the heart rate variability data.
Statistical analysis of data was done using a one-way MANOVA model and the alpha level was set at 0.05 for significance testing.
Results
Measured HRV parameters including SD2, SDNN, TINN, the SD2/SD1 ratio, Total power, LF, SD1, RMSSD, and HF were found to be lower in asthmatic horses compared to the controls.
The parameters of SD2, SDNN, TNN, the SD2/SD1 ratio, and Total power exhibited the highest distinguishing ability between the asthmatic and non-asthmatic horses.
Conclusions
Despite the small sample size which the study acknowledges as a limitation, the research concludes that like human patients, asthmatic horses also show a reduction in autonomic control based on the HRV data obtained.
Moreover, the research also reveals a relative increase in the parasympathetic modulation of the heart in case of asthmatic horses.
The study proposes that heart rate variability measurement could be an innovative, non-invasive way to monitor the autonomic nervous system responses in horses suffering from severe equine asthma in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Nyerges-Bohák Z, Kovács L, Povázsai Á, Hamar E, Póti P, Ladányi M.
(2024).
Heart rate variability in horses with and without severe equine asthma.
Equine Vet J.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14414
Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary.
Kovács, Levente
Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary.
Povázsai, Ágnes
Sportlógyógyász Kft, Csengele, Hungary.
Hamar, Enikő
Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary.
Póti, Péter
Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary.
Ladányi, Márta
Institute of Mathematics and Basis Science, Department of Applied Statistics, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Gödöllő, Hungary.
Grant Funding
u00daNKP-22-4-II New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development, and Innovation Fund
2020-1.1.2-PIACI-KFI-2021-00284 / National Research, Development, and Innovation Office Budapest, Hungary
Bullone M, Lavoie JP. Asthma “of horses and men” – how can equine heaves help us better understand human asthma immunopathology and its functional consequences?. Mol Immunol 2015;66:97–105.
von Borell E, Langbein J, Després G, Hansen S, Leterrier C, Marchant J. Heart rate variability as a measure of autonomic regulation of cardiac activity for assessing stress and welfare in farm animals—a review.. Physiol Behav 2007;92:293–316.
Paschoal MA, Petrelluzzi KFS, Gonçalves NVO. Estudo da variabilidade da frequênciacardíacaempacientes com doençapulmonarobstrutivacrônica.. Rev Ciênc Med 2002;11:27–37.
Volterrani M, Scalvini S, Mazzuero G, Lanfranchi P, Colombo R, Clark AL. Decreased heart rate variability in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. Chest 1994;106:1432–1437.
Roque AL, Valenti VE, Massetti T, da Silva TD, Monteiro CB, Oliveira FR. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart rate variability: a literature update.. Int Arch Med 2014;7:43.
Reis MS, Arena R, Deus AP, Simões RP, Catai AM, Borghi‐Silva A. Deep breathing heart rate variability is associated with respiratory muscle weakness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2010;65:369–375.
Du J, He J, Wang Y. A study of heart rate variability in asthma.. ZhonghuaJie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi 2001;24:744–745.
Ostrowska‐Nawarycz L, Wroński W, Błaszczyk J, Buczyłko K, Nawarycz T. The heart rate variability analysis in youth and children with bronchial asthma.. Pol Merkur Lekarski 2006;20:399–403.
Lutfi MF. Autonomic modulations in patients with bronchial asthma based on short‐term heart rate variability.. Lung India 2012;29:254–258.
Scalvini S, Porta R, Zanelli E, Volterrani M, Vitacca M, Pagani M. Effects of oxygen on autonomic nervous system dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. Eur Respir J 1999;13:119–124.
Camillo CA, Pitta F, Possani HV, Barbosa MV, Marques DS, Cavalheri V. Heart rate variability and disease characteristics in patients with COPD.. Lung 2008;186:393–401.
Chen WL, Chen GY, Kuo CD. Hypoxemia and autonomic nervous dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. Respir Med 2006;100:1547–1553.
Pagani M, Lucini D, Pizzinelli P, Sergi M, Bosisio E, Mela GS. Effects of aging and of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on RR interval variability.. J Auton Nerv Syst 1996;59:125–132.
Garcia‐Araújo AS, Pires Di Lorenzo VA, Labadessa IG, Jürgensen SP, Di Thommazo‐Luporini L, Garbim CL. Increased sympathetic modulation and decreased response of the heart rate variability in controlled asthma.. J Asthma 2015;52:246–253.
Franco OS, Júnior AOS, Signori LU, Prietsch SOM, Zhang L. Cardiac autonomic modulation assessed by heart rate variability in children with asthma.. Pediatr Pulmonol 2020;55(6):1334–1339.
Quintana DS, Heathers JA, Kemp AH. On the validity of using the Polar RS800 heart rate monitor for heart rate variability research.. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012;112:4179–4180.
Barbosa MP, da Silva NT, de Azevedo FM, Pastre CM, Vanderlei LC. Comparison of Polar® RS800G3™ heart rate monitor with Polar® S810i™ and electrocardiogram to obtain the series of RR intervals and analysis of heart rate variability at rest.. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2016;36:112–117.
R Core Team. R: a language and environment for statistical computing.. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2023.
Korkmaz S, Goksuluk D, Zararsiz GMVN. An R package for assessing multivariate normality.. R J 2014;6:151–162.
Wright MN, Ziegler A. ranger: a fast implementation of Random Forests for high dimensional data in C++ and R.. J Stat Soft 2017;77:1–17.
O'Connor BP. DFA.CANCOR: linear discriminant function and canonical correlation Analysis.. R package version 0.2.8 2023.
Kuhn M. Building predictive models in R using the caret package.. J Stat Soft 2008;28:1–26.
Clément F, Barrey É. Heart rate fluctuations in horse at rest: (2) biological factors of variation related to behavioural patterns.. C R Acad Sci 1995;318:867–872.
Rietmann T, Stuart AA, Bernasconi P, Staᆲher M, Auer J, Weishaupt M. Assessment of mental stress in warmblood horses: heart rate variability in comparison to heart rate and selected behavioural parameters.. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2004;88:121–136.
Garrard CS, Seidler A, McKibben A, McAlpine LE, Gordon D. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability in bronchial asthma.. Clin Auton Res 1992;2:105–111.
Gupta J, Dube A, Singh V, Gupta RC. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability in bronchial asthma patients.. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2012;56:330–336.
Incalzi RA, Corsonello A, Trojano L, Pedone C, Acanfora D, Spada A. Heart rate variability and drawing impairment in hypoxemic COPD.. Brain Cogn 2009;70:163–170.
Eppinger H, Hess L. Vagotonia: a clinical study in vegetative neurology.. Lancaster, PA: Nervous and Mental Disease Co; 1917.
Thayer JF, Loerbroks A, Sternberg EM. Inflammation and cardiorespiratory control: the role of the vagus nerve.. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2011;178:387–394.
Buda AJ, Pinsky MR, Ingels NB Jr, Daughters GT 2nd, Stinson EB, Alderman EL. Effect of intrathoracic pressure on left ventricular performance.. N Engl J Med 1979;301:453–459.
Benayoun L, Druilhe A, Dombret MC, Aubier M, Pretolani M. Airway structural alterations selectively associated with severe asthma.. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003;167:1360–1368.
Dias de Carvalho T, Marcelo Pastre C, Claudino Rossi R, de Abreu LC, Valenti VE, Marques Vanderlei LC. Geometric index of heart rate variability in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.. Rev Port Pneumol 2011;17:260–265.
Lam JC, Yan CS, Lai AY, Tam S, Fong DY, Lam B. Determinants of daytime blood pressure in relation to obstructive sleep apnea in men.. Lung 2009;187:291–298.
Vanderlei LC, Pastre CM, Freitas IF Jr, Godoy MF. Geometric indexes of heart rate variability in obese and eutrophic children.. Arq Bras Cardiol 2010;95:35–40.
James DV, Reynolds LJ, Maldonado‐Martin S. Influence of the duration of a treadmill walking bout on heart rate variability at rest in physically active women.. J Phys Act Health 2010;7:95–101.
Pantoni CBF, Reis MS, Martins LEB. Estudo da modulação autonômica da freqüência cardíaca em repouso de pacientes idosos com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica.. Rev Bras Fisioter 2007;11:35–41.
Milagro J, Soto‐Retes L, Giner J, Varon C, Laguna P, Bailón R. Asthmatic subjects stratification using autonomic nervous system information.. Biomed Signal Process Control 2021;69:102802.