Risk factors for epistaxis on British racecourses: evidence for locomotory impact-induced trauma contributing to the aetiology of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage.

This research studied risk factors associated with a condition called Epistaxis in UK Thoroughbreds after races. It concluded that the risk of Epistaxis was significantly higher for hurdle and steeplechase races compared to flat races, with the risk increasing with the hardness of the ground and the accumulated years of a horse’s racing career. The findings also indicated potential measures to reduce the incidence of the condition, such as watering the tracks.

Understanding the Research

• The research is focused on understanding the factors contributing to Epistaxis, a condition characterized by bleeding from the nostrils, in Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK. This condition is considered a potential symptom of a more serious issue known as Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Haemorrhage (EIPH), where intense exercise causes bleeding in the lungs.
• The research employs multivariable mixed effect logistic regression analyses on data from UK racecourses between 1996 and 1998. The analysis included various race-, horse- and start-level variables.

Main Findings

• The research revealed that the risk of Epistaxis was notably higher for hurdle and steeplechase race types compared to both flat and National Hunt flat races.
• The level of ground hardness (‘going’) and the accumulated years a horse has spent racing were observed to increase the risk of Epistaxis. However, in flat races, Epistaxis was a rare outcome that didn’t yield statistically significant results in relation to ground hardness.
• Horses suffering from Epistaxis were significantly more likely to have poor finishing positions in races than those without the symptom.

Significance and Further Studies

• The findings align with the theory that the physical impact on horses’ locomotory system during races may contribute to the occurrence of Epistaxis. This theory requires further validation using similar methods to visually observe EIPH, as well as through biomechanical studies.
• The understanding of these significant risk factors can aid in devising practical measures to mitigate the risk of Epistaxis and EIPH in racehorses. One suggested measure based on the findings is to water the race tracks, reducing ground hardness and potentially risk of these conditions.