Irregular hearts and performance horses

Physick‐Sheard, P. W.; Slack, JoAnn

doi:10.1111/evj.13316

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(45 reference statements)

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“…Similarly, the use of focused cardiac ultrasound by sports medicine physicians has proved successful for acquiring images that recognize common causes of sudden athletic death such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and aortic root dilatation in human athletes 37,38 . The incidence of sudden athletic death in horses that participate in high intensity exercise disciplines is estimated to be over 200 times higher than that of humans 39,40 . Echocardiography is considered a second‐tier diagnostic modality in pre‐participation screening programs for human athletes, where history, physical examination, and 12‐lead ECG are the most common components of the programs 41 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 37 , 38 The incidence of sudden athletic death in horses that participate in high intensity exercise disciplines is estimated to be over 200 times higher than that of humans. 39 , 40 Echocardiography is considered a second‐tier diagnostic modality in pre‐participation screening programs for human athletes, where history, physical examination, and 12‐lead ECG are the most common components of the programs. 41 The conditions that cause sudden athletic death in horses and humans are different 42 and therefore it is plausible that prevention likely requires a different approach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feasibility of a point‐of‐care ultrasound protocol for cardiorespiratory evaluation of horses in different clinical settings

Bevevino

Cohen

Gordon

et al. 2023

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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Background A point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) protocol for evaluation of the cardiac and respiratory systems in horses does not exist. Objectives (a) Describe the windows of a POCUS protocol for cardiorespiratory assessment of horses (CRASH); (b) Estimate the number of acoustic windows that can be acquired by a sonographer‐in‐training; (c) Estimate the time required to complete the protocol for specific groups of horses; (d) Describe the sonographic abnormalities detected in horses presented with cardiovascular, respiratory, or systemic disease. Animals Twenty‐seven healthy horses, 14 horses competing in athletic events, and 120 horses with clinical disease. Method A pocket‐sized ultrasound device was used to acquire 7 sonographic cardiorespiratory windows in various clinical scenarios. The duration of the examination was timed, and images were evaluated for diagnostic quality. Abnormalities in horses with clinical disease were determined by an expert sonographer. Results The CRASH protocol could be performed in healthy and diseased horses in hospital, barn, and competition settings between 5.5 ± 0.9 (athletic horses) and 6.9 ± 1.9 min (horses with clinical disease). Thoracic windows were obtained most consistently, followed by right parasternal long‐axis echocardiographic windows. Frequently detected abnormalities were pleural fluid, lung consolidation, B‐lines, and moderate‐to‐severe left‐sided heart disease. Conclusions The CRASH protocol was feasible using a pocket‐sized ultrasound device in various groups of horses, could be completed rapidly in a variety of settings, and frequently identified sonographic abnormalities when evaluated by an expert sonographer. The diagnostic accuracy, observer agreement, and utility of the CRASH protocol merit further evaluation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility of a point‐of‐care ultrasound protocol for cardiorespiratory evaluation of horses in different clinical settings

Bevevino

Cohen

Gordon

et al. 2023

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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“…Horses within the RAD group that died spontaneously or were euthanized while recumbent because of extreme cardiac, respiratory distress, or both in the absence of a catastrophic orthopedic or traumatic injury were defined as sudden athletic deaths (SAD). This latter term was proposed by Physick‐Sheard and Slack 11 to describe any horse that dies suddenly associated with exercise. Proportional fatality rates were used to describe the proportion of all fatalities attributed to either fatal orthopedic/traumatic injury or SAD.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Racing‐associated fatalities in Norwegian and Swedish harness racehorses: Incidence rates, risk factors, and principal postmortem findings

Hellings

Skjerve

Karlstam

et al. 2022

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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Background There are no reports on the number of fatalities or causes of death in the Norwegian and Swedish harness racehorses. Objectives The incidence rates (IRs), risk factors, and postmortem findings in horses that died or were euthanized associated with racing between 2014 and 2019 were investigated. Animals Thirty‐eight Standardbreds and 10 Norwegian‐Swedish Coldblooded Trotters died or were euthanized associated with racing. A total of 816 085 race‐starts were recorded. Methods Incidence rates were calculated for both countries and horse breeds. Risk factors for sudden death were identified using a case‐control logistic model. Postmortem examinations were performed in 43 horses. Results The overall fatality IR was 0.059/1000 race‐starts. Traumatic injuries accounted for 14.5%, while sudden death for 85.5% of fatalities. Only minor differences between countries and breeds were recorded. The number of starts within the last 30 days increased the risk of sudden death (5 starts odds ratio (OR) 228.80, confidence interval (CI) 10.9‐4793). An opposite non‐linear effect was observed in number of starts the last 180 days (>10 starts OR 0.12, CI 0.02‐0.68). Seven horses were euthanized because of catastrophic injury. Acute circulatory collapse because of suspected cardiac or pulmonary failure or both was recorded in 30 horses, while major hemorrhage after vessel rupture was the primary cause of death in 10 cases. One horse collapsed and died but was not submitted for autopsy. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Comparatively low rates of catastrophic orthopedic fatalities were reported, while causes and IR of sudden death were similar to previous studies.

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“…Catastrophic events are typically the result of musculoskeletal injuries and cardiorespiratory‐related disorders, many of which are believed to preface sudden death (SD). SD refers to the acute collapse or fatality of an apparently healthy horse possessing no clinical signs of injury or poor health, occurring during or soon after a race (Boden et al, 2005; Lucke, 1987; Physick‐Sheard & Slack, 2020). While musculoskeletal injuries reportedly account for 63%–74% of all SDs (Bimson et al, 2022; Boden et al, 2005, 2006; Clegg, 2011; Hitchens et al, 2019), cardiorespiratory disorders have also been reported to account for 56%–81% of SDs on race days (Boden et al, 2005; Lyle et al, 2011; Navas de Solis et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A synopsis of wearable commercially available biometric‐monitoring devices and their potential applications during gallop racing

Kee

Anderson²,

Velie

2023

Equine Veterinary Education

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SummaryAmidst discourse surrounding the racing industry's social licence to operate, the welfare of racehorses and jockeys is often at the forefront of discussions. Specifically, catastrophic events and the sudden death of horses on race days tend to capture media attention and often place the racing industry under public scrutiny. While such occurrences are not frequent, they have negative ramifications on the welfare of both racehorses and jockeys. The development and application of advanced monitoring technology could provide greater insight into the physiological precursors that immediately precede sudden death on race days and enable retrospective analyses of catastrophic events that take place. Most importantly, the application of such technology could ultimately aid racetrack personnel in identifying and intervening with horses at increased risk of catastrophic events, right up until the start of a race. This would inevitably improve the safety and welfare of horses and jockeys. Thus, the current review details key cardiovascular, respiratory and thermometry biometrics for racehorses and examines the currently available commercial devices with potential applications during racing. This review also highlights the importance of gathering biometric data for retrospective analyses of catastrophic events and their implications on the welfare of racehorses and jockeys.

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Irregular hearts and performance horses

Cited by 4 publications

References 35 publications

Feasibility of a point‐of‐care ultrasound protocol for cardiorespiratory evaluation of horses in different clinical settings

Feasibility of a point‐of‐care ultrasound protocol for cardiorespiratory evaluation of horses in different clinical settings

Racing‐associated fatalities in Norwegian and Swedish harness racehorses: Incidence rates, risk factors, and principal postmortem findings

A synopsis of wearable commercially available biometric‐monitoring devices and their potential applications during gallop racing

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