Prognostic Value and Development of a Scoring System in Horses With Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Equine Critical Care
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• The clinical utility of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) in equine medicine is not well-established.
• Understanding SIRS' prognostic value is crucial for effective equine emergency care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prognostic significance of SIRS measures in horses.
• To identify an optimal model for predicting outcomes in severe SIRS cases in horses.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 479 adult horses admitted for emergency treatment.
• Utilized multivariate logistic regression and stepwise model selection to analyze data.
• Assessed four SIRS criteria, SIRS scores (2-4), blood lactate, and mucous membrane color.

Main Results:

• Each of the four SIRS criteria independently correlated with patient outcome.
• Thirty-one percent of emergency admissions met SIRS criteria, with SIRS associated with increased odds of death (OR=8.22).
• A severe SIRS model (SIRS score, lactate, mucous membrane color) demonstrated the best predictive accuracy for outcome.

Conclusions:

• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome is a significant predictor of mortality in adult horses, especially those with acute gastrointestinal disease.
• The proposed severe SIRS model can effectively assess the status and prognosis of equine emergency admissions.