TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiac morphology and heart murmurs in elite eventing and dressage horses
AU - Wijnberg, Inge
AU - Maarsse, J
AU - Kampen , W. van
AU - Veraa, S.
N1 - Special Issue: Abstracts from the 9th International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology, 15-20 June, 2014 Chester, UK
PY - 2014/6
Y1 - 2014/6
N2 - Introduction: Training related cardiac adaptation is documented in
Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, including an increased incidence of
AV valve regurgitation. InWarmbloods less is known about training effects
on cardiac function or subclinical valve regurgitation.
Methods: Fifteen adult untrained Warmbloods (aged 3.8 ± 0.7 years)
were compared with fifteen adult Warmblood eventers (aged 11.4 ± 0.9
years) competing at CIC2* (group 1, n = 5) and CCI2*, CIC3*, CCI3* and
CCI4*levels (group 2, n = 9) and fifteen healthy adult Warmbloods
competing at advanced dressage (group 3, n = 5), Prix Saint Georges,
Intermediate or Grand Prix (group 4, n = 10) levels (mean age 10.3 ± 0.7
years). The presence of heart murmurs, valve regurgitation and
echocardiographic parameters were evaluated, and training intensity
was scored. A correlation was found between bodyweight and not
height. Differences in cardiac morphology were compared using
General Linear Models with post-hoc Bonferroni correction (SPSS version
20), using group and bodyweight as covariates. Significance was set
at P<0.05.
Prevalence of audible heart murmurs and valvular regurgitationwas higher
in eventers (0–20% and 29–79%, respectively and dressage horses (7–40%
and 7–60%, respectively) than controls (0–20% and 7–20%, respectively).
Interventricular septum in diastole (IVSd, left ventricular mass (LVM) and LV
meanwall thickness (LVMWT)were greater in groups 2 and 4 than controls;
group 4 also had a greater pulmonary artery diameter (PAD) and
LV posterior wall (LVPWd). Group 1 showed a greater LVMWT; group
4 a greater end point septal separation (EPSS). Training intensity influenced
in both categories IVSd and MWT; in eventers also the right ventricular
diameter in diastole and in dressage horses also LVPWd, LVM, EPSS
and PAD.
Elite eventers and dressage horses showed an increased prevalence of
audible murmurs and valvular regurgitation. Cardiac adaptations
resembled those associated with resistance and endurance training.
Increased performance level and training intensity accompanied increased
cardiac muscle thickness and volume. These effects should be considered
during sales and performance evaluations.
Ethical Animal Research: Evaluated by the Animal Ethics Committee of
Utrecht University and owner consent was obtained. Sources of
funding: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. Competing
interests: none.
AB - Introduction: Training related cardiac adaptation is documented in
Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, including an increased incidence of
AV valve regurgitation. InWarmbloods less is known about training effects
on cardiac function or subclinical valve regurgitation.
Methods: Fifteen adult untrained Warmbloods (aged 3.8 ± 0.7 years)
were compared with fifteen adult Warmblood eventers (aged 11.4 ± 0.9
years) competing at CIC2* (group 1, n = 5) and CCI2*, CIC3*, CCI3* and
CCI4*levels (group 2, n = 9) and fifteen healthy adult Warmbloods
competing at advanced dressage (group 3, n = 5), Prix Saint Georges,
Intermediate or Grand Prix (group 4, n = 10) levels (mean age 10.3 ± 0.7
years). The presence of heart murmurs, valve regurgitation and
echocardiographic parameters were evaluated, and training intensity
was scored. A correlation was found between bodyweight and not
height. Differences in cardiac morphology were compared using
General Linear Models with post-hoc Bonferroni correction (SPSS version
20), using group and bodyweight as covariates. Significance was set
at P<0.05.
Prevalence of audible heart murmurs and valvular regurgitationwas higher
in eventers (0–20% and 29–79%, respectively and dressage horses (7–40%
and 7–60%, respectively) than controls (0–20% and 7–20%, respectively).
Interventricular septum in diastole (IVSd, left ventricular mass (LVM) and LV
meanwall thickness (LVMWT)were greater in groups 2 and 4 than controls;
group 4 also had a greater pulmonary artery diameter (PAD) and
LV posterior wall (LVPWd). Group 1 showed a greater LVMWT; group
4 a greater end point septal separation (EPSS). Training intensity influenced
in both categories IVSd and MWT; in eventers also the right ventricular
diameter in diastole and in dressage horses also LVPWd, LVM, EPSS
and PAD.
Elite eventers and dressage horses showed an increased prevalence of
audible murmurs and valvular regurgitation. Cardiac adaptations
resembled those associated with resistance and endurance training.
Increased performance level and training intensity accompanied increased
cardiac muscle thickness and volume. These effects should be considered
during sales and performance evaluations.
Ethical Animal Research: Evaluated by the Animal Ethics Committee of
Utrecht University and owner consent was obtained. Sources of
funding: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. Competing
interests: none.
U2 - 10.1111/evj.12267_79
DO - 10.1111/evj.12267_79
M3 - Meeting Abstract
SN - 0425-1644
VL - 46
SP - 26
JO - Equine Veterinary Journal
JF - Equine Veterinary Journal
IS - S46
T2 - ICEEP 9th
Y2 - 15 June 2014
ER -