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Equine veterinary journal2023; doi: 10.1111/evj.13948

Premature depolarisations in horses competing in United States Eventing Association and Fédération Equestre Internationale-sanctioned 3-day events.

Abstract: Injuries and sudden death during the cross-country (XC) phase of eventing have raised interest in the frequency and types of cardiac arrhythmias occurring in these equine athletes. Objective: To characterise the frequency and types of rhythm disturbances and examine possible risk factors for premature depolarisations (PDs) occurring during the XC phase of United States Eventing Association (USEA) and Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI)-sanctioned events. Methods: Prospective, cross-sectional study. Methods: Continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings were obtained from horses prior to, during and immediately following the XC competition. Physiological rhythms pre-XC were included in the arrhythmia group for analysis. The frequency of PDs was calculated for all horses, as well as by division. PDs were categorised by complexity (singles, couplets, triplets, complex) and variably grouped for statistical analysis. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for the presence of specific cardiac arrhythmia groupings during XC. Results: PDs were identified in 42/75 horses (56% [45, 67]) during XC. Horses competing in the upper divisions of eventing had higher odds for having any PD during XC compared to the lower divisions (OR = 17.5 [4.3, 72.01], p = 0.006). The amount of time the heart rate (HR) was greater than 199 beats per minute (BPM) was associated with more complex arrhythmias (triplets, salvos and tachyarrhythmias) (OR = 1.01 [1.0, 1.02], p = 0.005). An arrhythmia at rest (physiological or PD) was associated with arrhythmia in the early recovery period (OR = 3.5 [1.1, 10.8], p = 0.03). Conclusions: Convenience sampling and technical challenges of continuous ECG recordings under competition settings limited the number of enrollments. Conclusions: PDs were seen in a high percentage of horses during the XC competition. Upper levels and time the HR was greater than 199 BPM were related to PD presence and complexity. Unassigned: À la fois blessures et morts soudaines durant l'épreuve de cross en concours complet ont suscité un certain intérêt récemment, particulièrement la fréquence et le type d'arythmies cardiaques dont souffrent les chevaux blessés. Objective: Caractériser la fréquence et les types de dérangements du rythme cardiaque. Examiner les facteurs de risques potentiels de dépolarisations prématurées (PDs) qui surviennent durant la phase de cross des compétitions régies par l'Association de concours complet des États-Unis (USEA) et la Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). TYPE D'ÉTUDE: Étude transversale prospective. MÉTHODES: Des enregistrements échocardiographiques (ECG) de chevaux en continu ont été obtenus avant, pendant et suivant les compétitions de cross. Les rythmes physiologiques pré-cross ont été inclus dans le groupe arythmie pour fin d'analyse. La fréquence des PDs a été calculée pour tous les chevaux, de même que par division. Les PDs ont été catégorisés par complexité (simple, doublet, triplet, complexe) et groupés de façon variable pour l'analyse statistique. Une régression logistique multiple a été utilisée pour identifier les facteurs de risque pour la présence de groupes d'arythmie cardiaque spécifiques durant le cross. RÉSULTATS: Des PDs ont été identifiées chez 42/75 (56% [45, 67]) chevaux en épreuve de cross. Les chevaux compétitionnant dans les divisions plus exigeantes avaient davantage de chance d'avoir des PD durant le cross comparativement à ceux dans les divisions inférieures (OR = 17.5 [4.3, 72.01], p = 0.006). La durée pendant laquelle la fréquence cardiaque était supérieure à 199 battements par minute (BPM) était associée à des arythmies plus complexes (triplets, salvos, tachyarythmies) (OR = 1.01 [1.0, 1.02], p = 0.005). Une arythmie au repos (physiologique ou PD) était associée à une arythmie tôt en période de récupération (OR = 3.5 [1.1, 10.8], p = 0.03). Unassigned: Échantillon de convenance. Difficultés techniques liées à l'enregistrement des ECG en continu durant les compétitions ont limité le nombre de chevaux dans l'étude. Conclusions: Des dépolarisations prématurées ont été observées en grand nombre chez les chevaux qui compétitionnent en cross. Ceux compétitionnant à de plus hauts niveaux et la durée pendant laquelle la fréquence cardiaque du cheval était supérieure à 199 bpm étaient reliées à la présence et complexité des dépolarisations prématurées.
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Publication Date: 2023-05-30 PubMed ID: 37248851DOI: 10.1111/evj.13948Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 is about the device-tracked heart conditions of competing horses in eventing, with a focus on the premature depolarisations (PDs) occurring during cross-country (XC) events. The researchers found that higher-level competitions and a heart rate of more than 199 beats per minute were leading factors in the frequency and complexity of PDs.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The research aimed to understand the nature, frequency, and possible risk factors of cardiac arrhythmias—particularly premature depolarisations or PDs—occurring in horses during the cross country (XC) phase of eventing.
  • The study was prospective and cross-sectional by design, and involved continuous tracking of each horse’s electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings before, during, and after the event. The physiological rhythms at the start of the event were also factored into the analysis.
  • The researchers employed multiple logistic regression to identify the risk factors associated with the specific groupings of cardiac arrhythmia during the XC phase.

Findings and Observations from the Study

  • Premature depolarisations (PDs) were noticed in 56% of the horses during the XC event.
  • It was observed that horses competing in higher divisions demonstrably exhibited more chances of contracting PD during the event, compared to those in the lower divisions. The odds ratio here was found to be 17.5.
  • An increase in the risk and complexity of arrhythmia was associated with the duration for which the heart rate was above 199 beats per minute (BPM).
  • A resting arrhythmia, either physiological or PD, was linked with an arrhythmia in the early recovery period.

Limitations and Conclusions of the Study

  • The study faced some limitations due to the challenge of continuous ECG recordings and the convenient sampling under competition settings, affecting the number of enrollments.
  • Nevertheless, the study concluded that there is a high prevalence of PDs in horses during XC competitions. The heightened division levels and rates of heart beat more than 199 BPM were directly linked to the presence and complexity of PDs.

Cite This Article

APA
Durando MM, Slack J, Birks E, Belcher C, Kohn C. (2023). Premature depolarisations in horses competing in United States Eventing Association and Fédération Equestre Internationale-sanctioned 3-day events. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13948

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Durando, Mary M
  • Equine Sports Medicine Consultants, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Slack, Joann
  • New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Birks, Eric
  • Equine Sports Medicine Consultants, Newark, Delaware, USA.
Belcher, Carolyn
  • Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Resources Division, Brunswick, Georgia, USA.
Kohn, Catherine
  • 4519 Zeller Road, Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Grant Funding

  • United States Eventing Association

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Avison A, Physick-Sheard PW, Pyle WG. Performance horses as a model for exercise-associated cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. J Mol Cell Cardiol Plus 2025 Jun;12:100452.
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  2. Navas de Solis C, Ramseyer A, Stefanovski D, Haughan J, Solomon CJ, Kirsch K. Association of heart rate variability, exercise intensity and exercising arrhythmias with competition results in eventing horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1446-1456.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14491pubmed: 40008417google scholar: lookup
  3. Navas de Solis C, Solomon C, Durando M, Stefanovski D. Electrocardiograms from different types of exercise in Eventing horses with and without cardiac signs. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):991-1000.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14449pubmed: 39632364google scholar: lookup
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