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Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine2004; 51(5); 218-225; doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00627.x

The association between heart rate, heart rate variability, endocrine and behavioural pain measures in horses suffering from laminitis.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the stress response of horses suffering from laminitis after short- and long-term treatment with the intent to evaluate power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) for pain monitoring. Data were collected from 19 horses with acute or chronic exacerbating laminitis without known primary disease before and after treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Recordings were carried out the day after admission to the equine hospital. Measurements were repeated on day 7 of the treatment. The recorded parameters included a clinical orthopaedic index (OLPI: Obel-grade plus hoof tester score), frequency of weight-shifting between contralateral limbs, mean beat-to-beat interval (R-R) duration, standard deviation of continuous R-R intervals, low- (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components of HRV, sympatho-vagal balance (LF/HF), and plasma concentration of cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenalin. The LF represents mainly sympathetic influences on the heart whereas HF is mediated by the parasympathetic tone. Weight-shifting and OLPI decreased significantly with treatment. The LF normalized units (n.u.) decreased after NSAID from 60.41 +/- 21.42 to 51.12 +/- 19.81 and was 49.33 +/- 22.64 on day 7, whereas HF n.u. increased from 35.07 +/- 20.02 to 43.14 +/- 18.30 and was 45.98 +/- 23.00 on day 7. Hormone levels showed no tendency to change with treatment. The OLPI was only correlated with LF/HF, LF and HF (R = 0.57, 0.55 and -0.54 respectively). Significant negative correlations existed between HFn.u. and weight-shifting frequency (R = -0.37), HFn.u. and adrenalin (R = -0.47), and HFn.u. and noradrenalin (R = 0.33). The LFn.u. only correlated positively with adrenalin. Cortisol levels were poorly associated with the other parameters. Determination of the sympatho-vagal influences on cardiac function may offer complementary information for reliable assessment of pain and may represent a valuable alternative method to catecholamine measurements.
Copyright 2004 Blackwell Verlag
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Publication Date: 2004-08-19 PubMed ID: 15315700DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00627.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This research aims to measure the stress response in horses suffering from laminitis by evaluating their heart rates and behaviors before and after treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. The study found that data from heart rate variability (HRV) may offer valuable information for assessing pain in these animals.

Overview of the Study

  • The study involved 19 horses with acute or chronic exacerbating laminitis, a painful horse condition affecting the feet.
  • The researchers examined the horses’ stress response before and after treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), by measuring a range of parameters.
  • The parameters included a clinical orthopaedic index, frequency of weight-shifting between contralateral limbs, mean beat-to-beat interval (R-R) duration, standard deviation of continuous R-R intervals, low- and high-frequency components of HRV, sympatho-vagal balance, and plasma concentration of cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenalin.
  • All these measures were taken the day after the horses were admitted to the equine hospital and then again on day 7 of the treatment.

Findings and Interpretation

  • Patient treatment caused significant decreases in weight-shifting and the clinical orthopaedic index deemed the Obel grade plus hoof tester score (OLPI). This suggests an improvement in the horses’ condition.
  • Data analysis of the horses’ HRV revealed that the low-frequency normalized units (n.u.) decreased after NSAID treatment, while the high-frequency n.u. increased. In this context, the high-frequency component is usually associated with a decrease in stress level and an improvement in the animals’ well-being.
  • Importantly, hormone levels did not show a significant change with treatment. This implies that the effects of the treatment were not necessarily linked to hormonal changes, but more likely to other physiological responses.
  • The OLPI was only correlated with sympatho-vagal balance, showing that these orthopedic measures could be closely linked with the horses’ cardiovascular responses to stress.
  • Significant negative correlations were found between high-frequency n.u. and weight-shifting frequency, adrenalin, and noradrenalin. The opposite trend was found for low-frequency n.u., which only correlated positively with adrenalin. Cortisol levels, however, were poorly associated with the other parameters, suggesting that this hormone plays a minor role in the horses’ responses to laminitis and treatment.

Summary and Implications

  • The study results point to the determination of the sympatho-vagal influences on cardiac function as a promising method for assessing pain in horses. This could offer complementary information to existing evaluation methods and may serve as a valuable alternative to measuring catecholamine levels.
  • These findings could therefore have important implications for pain management and treatment monitoring in horses. Further research to confirm and extend these results seems warranted.

Cite This Article

APA
Rietmann TR, Staﾬher M, Bernasconi P, Auer JA, Weishaupt MA. (2004). The association between heart rate, heart rate variability, endocrine and behavioural pain measures in horses suffering from laminitis. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med, 51(5), 218-225. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0442.2004.00627.x

Publication

Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine
ISSN: 0931-184X
NlmUniqueID: 100955112
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 5
Pages: 218-225

Researcher Affiliations

Rietmann, T R
  • Equine Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Staﾬher, M
    Bernasconi, P
      Auer, J A
        Weishaupt, M A

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
          • Autonomic Nervous System
          • Behavior, Animal
          • Electrophysiology / methods
          • Endocrine System
          • Female
          • Heart Rate
          • Horse Diseases / blood
          • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
          • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
          • Horses
          • Joint Diseases / physiopathology
          • Joint Diseases / veterinary
          • Male
          • Pain / physiopathology
          • Pain / veterinary
          • Pain Measurement / veterinary
          • Predictive Value of Tests

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