We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Effect of induced chronic atrial fibrillation on exercise performance in Standardbred trotters.
- Authors
Buhl, Rikke; Carstensen, Helena; Hesselkilde, Eva Zander; Klein, Bjørg Zinkernagel; Hougaard, Karen Margrethe; Ravn, Kirsten Bomberg; Loft‐Andersen, Ameli Victoria; Fenner, Merle Friederike; Pipper, Christian; Jespersen, Thomas
- Abstract
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia affecting performance in horses. However, no previous studies have quantified the performance reduction in horses suffering from AF. Objectives: To quantify the effect of AF on maximum velocity (Vmax), maximum heart rate (HRmax), heart rate recovery (T100), hematologic parameters and development of abnormal QRS complexes. Animals: Nine Standardbred trotters. Methods: Two‐arm controlled trial. Six horses had AF induced by means of a pacemaker and 3 served as sham‐operated controls. All horses were subjected to an exercise test to fatigue before (SET1) and after (SET2) 2 months of AF or sham. The Vmax and HRmax were assessed using a linear mixed normal model. Abnormal QRS complexes were counted manually on surface ECGs. Results: Atrial fibrillation resulted in a 1.56 m/sec decrease in Vmax (P < .0001). In the AF group, HRmax ± SD increased from 226 ± 11 bpm at SET1 to 311 ± 27 bpm at SET 2. The AF group had higher HRmax at SET2 compared with controls (P < .0001), whereas no difference between the control and AF groups was observed at SET1 (P = .96). Several episodes of wide complex tachycardia were observed during exercise in 3 of the AF horses during SET2. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Atrial fibrillation resulted in a significant reduction in performance, an increase in HR and development of abnormal QRS complexes during exercise, which may be a risk factor for collapse or sudden cardiac death.
- Subjects
ATRIAL fibrillation; STANDARDBRED horse; EXERCISE; ARRHYTHMIA; PERFORMANCE; DISEASES
- Publication
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2018, Vol 32, Issue 4, p1410
- ISSN
0891-6640
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jvim.15137