Prevalence and risk factors for cardiac diseases in a hospital-based population of 3,434 horses (1994-2011).

The research article studies and identifies risk factors contributing to cardiac diseases in a large population of horses. This investigation is conducted on hospital-based equine data collected from 1994 to 2011, highlighting and confirming previously suspected risk factors and pointing out newer ones.

Study Design and Methodology

• The study is observational and is conducted on 3,434 horse cases admitted to the Internal Medicine Department of the Liege Equine Teaching Hospital between 1994 and 2011. From these cases, 284 horses diagnosed with moderate-to-severe cardiac diseases were identified and closely reviewed.
• Prevalence for each cardiac disease was calculated and risk factors such as breed, sex, age, body weight (BW), and coexisting cardiac conditions were examined using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. A risk factor was considered significant if the p-value was less than .05.

Results and Findings

• Out of the studied population, the most common cardiac abnormalities detected were Mitral Regurgitation (4.4%), Atrial Fibrillation (2.3%), Aortic Regurgitation (2.1%), and Tricuspid Regurgitation (1.7%).
• Determinants for Aortic Regurgitation were identified as male gender and advancing age. For Tricuspid Regurgitation, risk factors were found to be the horse breed typically used for racing and middle age. A higher body weight was found to be a risk factor for Atrial Fibrillation.
• Mitral Regurgitation, the most common valvular disease, was associated with other cardiac diseases such as Atrial Fibrillation, significant ventricular arrhythmia, Pulmonary Regurgitation, and Congestive Heart Failure. Tricuspid Regurgitation was associated with Atrial Fibrillation, Pulmonary Regurgitation, and Congestive Heart Failure, whereas Aortic Regurgitation wasn’t associated with any instance of Congestive Heart Failure.

Conclusions and Implications

• Upon reviewing a large hospital-based population of horses, the study successfully confirmed several suspected risk factors for equine cardiac diseases. It has also helped highlight other risk factors that may have not been pointed out before.
• These observations are important for stable managers, veterinarians, and horse owners as they will help inform health monitoring procedures and sporting practices for horses displaying these risk factors.