[Heart disease in sports horses: Current recommendations of the 2014 ACVIM / ECEIM consensus statement]

Area of Science:

• Equine Cardiology
• Sports Medicine in Horses
• Veterinary Internal Medicine

Background:

• Heart murmurs and arrhythmias are prevalent in equine athletes.
• Clinical relevance of cardiac conditions impacts horse health, performance, and longevity.
• Comprehensive cardiovascular examination is essential for accurate diagnosis and severity assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize expert panel recommendations for sports horses with heart disease.
• To guide practitioners on managing common cardiac disorders in adult sports horses.
• To provide criteria for determining safe athletic participation for horses with cardiovascular conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of consensus statements from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and European College of Equine Internal Medicine (ECEIM).
• Focus on common cardiac disorders including valvular insufficiencies, septal defects, and arrhythmias.
• Categorization of recommendations based on disease severity and impact on performance.

Main Results:

• Most horses with cardiovascular disease can maintain sufficient performance capacity.
• Regular evaluations are necessary for horses with clinically relevant cardiac disorders.
• Specific guidelines are provided for ridden or driven use based on condition severity (e.g., atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure).

Conclusions:

• Informed riders may continue using horses with moderate disease or certain arrhythmias.
• Horses with severe conditions like complex ventricular arrhythmias or heart failure require retirement.
• Adherence to expert recommendations ensures optimal management and safety for sports horses with cardiac conditions.