Reliability of cardiorespiratory measurements with a new ergospirometer during intense treadmill exercise in Thoroughbred horses.

The research assessed the consistency of measurements taken with a new ergospirometer device (Quadflow) in treadmill-tested Thoroughbred horses, and compared its performance to an open flow mask.

Objective and Methods of the Research Study

• The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Quadflow ergospirometer when used for cardiorespiratory measurements in horses during stressful treadmill exercises.
• The research sought to measure variables including oxygen uptake, peak expiratory flow rates, and minute ventilation which reflect the rate and depth of breathing as well as gas exchange in the lungs.
• The study also compared how heart rate and blood lactate responses, indicating physical exertion and metabolic function, varied between horses wearing the Quadflow mask and an open flow mask.

Key Findings and Interpretation

• The average percentage error encountered in oxygen uptake measurements was found to be 8.2%, which is within an acceptable range of deviations.
• For peak expiratory flow rates, the study found the range of percent error to be between 6.1% and 9.4%, and for minute ventilation, the error ranged from 2.5% to 7.4%.
• The researchers found that variability in measurements related to pulmonary ventilation in two studied horses exercising non-stop at 9.0 m/s was less than 5%, suggesting a relatively steady consistency in these readings among the studied population.
• For oxygen uptake, the variability was found to be 7.7%, indicating a slightly higher inconsistency in these readings among the studied horses.
• The use of the Quadflow mask was seen to marginally raise blood lactate concentration and relative heart rate during submaximal exercise, indicating an increase in physiological stress in horses wearing this mask.

Conclusions of the Study

• The Quadflow mask’s reliability in the measured statistics was deemed adequate for routine use in a veterinary practice or research laboratory setting for clinical exercise testing in horses.
• Despite the minor increase in blood lactate concentration and relative heart rate, the research concluded that the error margins and inconsistencies were acceptable, validating the use of this device for important measurements in equine clinical exercise testing.