Open AccessPrevalence and Risk Factors for Cardiac Diseases in a Hospital‐Based Population of 3,434 Horses (1994–2011)
Author(s) -
Leroux A.A.,
Detilleux J.,
Sandersen C.F.,
Borde L.,
Houben R.M.A.C.,
Al Haidar A.,
Art T.,
Amory H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/jvim.12197
Subject(s) - medicine , atrial fibrillation , heart failure , population , cardiology , mitral regurgitation , valvular heart disease , logistic regression , regurgitation (circulation) , environmental health
Background Risk factors for cardiac diseases in horses have not been explored in a large population of animals. Objectives To describe risk factors for various cardiac diseases in a hospital‐based population of horses. Animals Files of 3,434 horses admitted at the Internal Medicine Department of the Liege Equine Teaching Hospital between 1994 and 2011 were reviewed and of those, 284 were categorized as having moderate‐to‐severe cardiac disease. Methods Observational study. After calculating prevalence for each cardiac disease, we tested whether breed (chi‐square test) or sex, age, body weight ( BW ), and other cardiac diseases (logistic regressions) were risk factors ( p < .05 significant). Results Mitral regurgitation ( MR , 4.4%), atrial fibrillation ( AF , 2.3%), aortic regurgitation ( AR , 2.1%), and tricuspid regurgitation ( TR , 1.7%) were the most common cardiac abnormalities detected. Determinants were male sex and increasing age for AR ( OR = 2.03, CI = 1.07–4.94), racehorses breed and middle‐age for TR ( OR = 4.36; CI = 1.10–17.24), and high BW for AF ( OR = 3.54; CI = 1.67–7.49). MR was the most common valvular disease associated with AF , clinically important ventricular arrhythmia, pulmonary regurgitation ( PR ), and congestive heart failure ( CHF ). TR was also associated with AF , PR , and CHF ; AR was not associated with CHF . Conclusions and Clinical Importance Several previously suspected risk factors for a variety of equine cardiac diseases are statistically confirmed and other risk factors are highlighted in the studied hospital‐based population. These observations should be taken into account in health and sport's monitoring of horses presenting predisposing factors.