Trends in the management of horses referred for colic evaluation preceding and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2013-2023).
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic represented a significant source of anxiety and stress for equine veterinarians and clients, with the potential for measurable effects on caseload and owner economics. Unassigned: To compare the number of horses presenting for emergency colic evaluation and treatment, as well as costs at two equine referral hospitals. Unassigned: Retrospective cohort. Unassigned: Medical records of horses admitted to North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic (BEVC) were compared. Total equine accessions, number of horses referred for colic, and patient age were recorded over an 11-year period (2013-2023). Horses were categorised based on treatment as medical, surgical treatment with recovery, surgical exploration with intraoperative euthanasia, or euthanasia without surgery. Total invoice of each case was also recorded. Unassigned: Total equine accessions, total number and proportion of horses presenting for evaluation of colic, and number of horses recovering from colic surgery at NCSU increased following onset of the pandemic, while they remained similar to pre-pandemic levels at BEVC. The proportion of horses presenting for colic that received surgery decreased at both hospitals over the study period. Mean invoice totals for horses surviving colic surgery increased at both hospitals over the study period, but was not significantly associated with euthanasia. Age was not significantly different between categories of colic. Unassigned: Retrospective study design, differences in academic and private practices. Unassigned: The decreasing proportion of horses admitted for colic that received surgery is likely due to the increased caseload of first-opinion care at referral practices during the pandemic, as fewer options were available to owners. The increasing number of horses euthanised intraoperatively or euthanised without receiving surgery may be due to the dramatically rising costs of medical care, particularly surgery.
Publication Date: 2024-08-19 PubMed ID: 40599687PubMed Central: PMC12208670DOI: 10.1111/eve.14038Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research has been conducted to analyse the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of horse colic cases referred to two equine hospitals. The study identifies changes in case numbers, treatment procedures, and associated costs during this period.
Research Objective and Methodology
- The research aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number and type of equine colic cases referred for treatment and their associated costs. Two referral hospitals, North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic (BEVC), were selected for the study.
- This is a retrospective cohort study, which means it looks back at events that have already occurred and uses existing data to investigate the issues.
- The researchers examined medical records from an 11-year period (2013-2023) encompassing both pre and during-pandemic times.
- The records included total equine accessions, number of horses referred for colic, and patient age.
- Equine colic cases were categorised based on treatment types: medical treatment, surgical treatment with recovery, surgical exploration accompanied by euthanasia or euthanasia without surgery.
- The total invoice for each case was derived from the medical records.
Research Outcomes
- Since the onset of the pandemic, the study found an increase in total equine accessions, number of horses referred for colic, and those recovered from colic surgery at NCSU, while these numbers remained consistent at BEVC.
- The proportion of colic cases undergoing surgery declined at both hospitals over the study period, even as the costs for horses surviving surgery went up.
- The age of the horses did not show a significant variation between different colic categories.
- The research notes that the rising number of horses euthanised during or without surgery might be due to the increased cost of medical care, especially surgical procedures.
Limitations and Conclusion
- The work is a retrospective study, limiting the ability to predict future outcomes.
- The difference between academic and private practices may have influenced the outcomes.
- The study concludes that the decrease in surgical interventions for colic cases might relate to the heightened caseload of primary care at referral practices during the pandemic. With fewer options available, owners may have found treatments other than surgery more accessible, despite the surge in treatment costs.
Cite This Article
APA
Elane GL, Blikslager AT, Mair TS.
(2024).
Trends in the management of horses referred for colic evaluation preceding and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2013-2023).
Equine Vet Educ, 37(6), 308-315.
https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.14038 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
- CVS Group PLC, Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, Kent, ME18 5GS, UK.
Grant Funding
- T32 OD011130 / NIH HHS
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interest statement No conflicts of interest have been declared.
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