Recurrent colic in the horse: incidence and risk factors for recurrence in the general practice population.
Abstract: The frequency of recurrent colic in the UK equine general practice population is previously unreported. Elucidating risk factors for recurrent colic could provide a basis for clinical decision making and interventions. Objective: To determine the incidence rate of and risk factors for recurrent colic. Objective: Horse management, prophylactic health care and innate behaviour contribute to the risk of recurrent colic. Methods: A cohort of 127 horses was enrolled at the point of a veterinary-diagnosed medical colic episode. Participating owners completed a baseline and 3 follow-up telephone questionnaires over one year. Clinical details of each colic episode were collected with data on management, behaviour and preventive healthcare. Incidence was calculated using time at risk data; non-time varying covariates were assessed for association with recurrent colic using multivariable logistic regression. Results: The recurrence rate was 50 colic events/100 horse years at risk (HYAR). Including only veterinary attended recurrent colic episodes the incidence was 35 colic events per 100 HYAR. A multivariable logistic regression model was built to explore non-time varying risk factors for recurrence collected from baseline data. The model showed that horses that have a known dental problem (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.3, 23.1) or crib-bite/windsuck (OR 12.1, 95% CI 1.4, 108.1) were at increased risk of recurrence during the year following a colic event. Conclusions: The incidence of recurrence in horses following a medical episode of colic is high in this population and represents a welfare concern. The incidence rate can be used to compare intervention efficacy in similar populations. Identified risk factors could provide the basis for management interventions or highlight at risk individuals.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-08-04 PubMed ID: 21790759DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00383.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article studies the frequency of recurring colic in horses and identifies possible risk factors connected to these recurrent cases. The study illuminates findings on horse management, prophylactic health care, and innate behaviour that may contribute to the risk of recurring colic.
Methodology
- The study took into consideration a cohort of 127 horses that experienced a veterinarian-diagnosed medical colic episode.
- Horse owners involved in the study completed a baseline and three follow-up telephone questionnaires over the course of one year.
- Details about each colic episode were gathered, alongside data relating to the management, behaviour, and preventative health care of the horses.
- Incidence was computed using time at risk data, and non-time varying covariates were assessed for any associations with recurrent colic through multivariable logistic regression.
Results
- The recurrence rate of colic events was calculated to be 50 colic events per 100 horse years at risk (HYAR). Considering only recurrences that required the attendance of a veterinarian, the incidence rate decreased to 35 colic events per 100 HYAR.
- A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to explore non-time based risk factors for recurrence collected from baseline data.
- The model deduced that horses with a known dental problem (OR 5.5, 95% CI 1.3, 23.1) or horses that crib-bite/windsuck (OR 12.1, 95% CI 1.4, 108.1) are at increased risk of a colic recurrence within the following year of a colic event.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that the rate of recurrence of colic in horses after a medical episode is high and signifies a welfare concern within this population.
- The established incidence rate can be used as a standard to compare the efficacy of interventions in similar populations.
- The identified risk factors can inform the basis for management interventions or highlight individuals that are at risk. This can potentially assist in preventing future cases of colic recurrence.
Cite This Article
APA
Scantlebury CE, Archer DC, Proudman CJ, Pinchbeck GL.
(2011).
Recurrent colic in the horse: incidence and risk factors for recurrence in the general practice population.
Equine Vet J Suppl(39), 81-88.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00383.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Liverpool, UK. claire.scantlebury@liverpool.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Colic / veterinary
- Data Collection
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Humans
- Incidence
- Odds Ratio
- Recurrence
- Risk Factors
- Stomatognathic Diseases / complications
- Stomatognathic Diseases / veterinary
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Siwińska N, Żak-Bochenek A, Paszkowska M, Karczewski M, Długopolska D, Haider W. Retrospective Evaluation of the Most Frequently Observed Histological Changes in Duodenal and Rectal Mucosal Biopsies in Horses with Recurrent Colic.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 13;12(24).
- Wild I, Freeman S, Robles D, Matamoros D, Ortiz M, Rodriguez J, Burford J. Owners' Knowledge and Approaches to Colic in Working Equids in Honduras.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 13;11(7).
- Curtis L, Burford JH, England GCW, Freeman SL. Risk factors for acute abdominal pain (colic) in the adult horse: A scoping review of risk factors, and a systematic review of the effect of management-related changes.. PLoS One 2019;14(7):e0219307.
- O'Connor AM, Sargeant JM, Dohoo IR, Erb HN, Cevallos M, Egger M, Ersbøll AK, Martin SW, Nielsen LR, Pearl DL, Pfeiffer DU, Sanchez J, Torrence ME, Vigre H, Waldner C, Ward MP. Explanation and Elaboration Document for the STROBE-Vet Statement: Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-Veterinary Extension.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Nov;30(6):1896-1928.
- Curtis L, Burford JH, Thomas JS, Curran ML, Bayes TC, England GC, Freeman SL. Prospective study of the primary evaluation of 1016 horses with clinical signs of abdominal pain by veterinary practitioners, and the differentiation of critical and non-critical cases.. Acta Vet Scand 2015 Oct 6;57:69.
- Escalona EE, Okell CN, Archer DC. Prevalence of and risk factors for colic in horses that display crib-biting behaviour.. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S3.
- Scantlebury CE, Perkins E, Pinchbeck GL, Archer DC, Christley RM. Could it be colic? Horse-owner decision making and practices in response to equine colic.. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S1.
- Gigliuto C, De Gregori M, Malafoglia V, Raffaeli W, Compagnone C, Visai L, Petrini P, Avanzini MA, Muscoli C, Viganò J, Calabrese F, Dominioni T, Allegri M, Cobianchi L. Pain assessment in animal models: do we need further studies?. J Pain Res 2014;7:227-36.
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