Effect of induced chronic atrial fibrillation on exercise performance in Standardbred trotters.

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 (V_max ), maximum heart rate (HR_max ), 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 V_max and HR_max were assessed using a linear mixe

SUBMITTER: Buhl R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6060327 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature