Horse news, research and information
A recent study concluded that smart phone-based ECG devices are practical, useful and feasible for horse heart assessment under field conditions.
Researchers at the University of Milan in Italy pointed out that smartphone-based ECGs may be useful to horse practitioners, but previous studies only evaluated the accuracy of these smartphone-based devices in hospitalized horses.
Elena Alberti and her colleagues said in the VetRecord Open magazine that different conditions in the field may affect the accuracy of the device.
In their research, they began to compare the accuracy of smartphone-based ECGs and standard ECG devices recorded by the AliveCor veterinary heart monitor using smartphone technology.
In field conditions (in the stables in northern Italy) and hospital conditions, the horse's standard ECG and smartphone-based ECG were recorded at the same time.
The smartphone's ECG is automatically digitized by the device and sent in PDF format via email. Then analyzed the stored electrocardiogram on the laptop.
Appropriate paired ECGs are evaluated by an experienced clinician who does not know which technique is used for each ECG.
They said the results proved the accuracy of the AliveCor veterinary heart monitor.
The standard ECG and smartphone ECG were found to be consistent in heart rate and rhythm, atrioventricular block and premature complex, P wave and PQ interval duration, and QRS complex duration and polarity.
No differences were found between the artifacts recorded under hospital and field conditions.
When comparing the accuracy parameters obtained by using the equipment in the field and hospital conditions, the judgment results are similar.
They concluded that the smartphone-based monitor is a reliable diagnostic tool for veterinary practitioners in the field and in hospital conditions.
They said that based on the author's experience using AliveCor under field conditions, only abnormal atmospheric conditions may prevent recording.
The first episode took place in the stables in the storm, during which the "electromagnetic interference is too high" message appeared on the smartphone screen, and the tracking was interrupted.
The second episode takes place in a stable at an altitude of about 1,000 meters in winter. The temperature is about 4°C, which is outside the recommended temperature range of +10°C to +40°C.
The research team consisted of Alberti, Luca Stucchi, Giovanni Stancari, Elisabetta Ferro, Francesco Ferrucci and Enrica Zucca, all from the University of Milan; and Valeria Pesce, a veterinarian in Genoa, Italy.
Alberti, E., Stucchi, L., Pesce, V., Stancari, G., Ferro, E., Ferrucci, F., Zucca, E. (2020) The accuracy of smart phone-based ECG equipment in the field and on-site Assess the horse’s hospital conditions. Veterinary records public 7: e000441. doi: 10.1136/vetreco-2020-000441
The research is released under a Creative Commons license and can be read here.
The latest research and information from the horse industry.
We have always used heart rate as an on-site tool to indicate illegal drug use in a quarter of American horses. The duration from peak to rest after the game is the main factor. It seems that we suspect that some horses have a heart rate increase of 150 bpm+ within 30 minutes after the race. A reliable and easy-to-file device is needed to collect data. What applications were used in the research? Nothing can be found on the open market. thanks. jtrue@raceruidoso.com
Your email address will not be published. Required places have been marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time you comment.
Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.
Notify me of new posts via email.
Aurora Pure Crabets Gerzanne Arabians Vollrath Hanoverians
Organization NZ Connemara Soc. NZ Farriers Assn. New Zealand Hanover Society Irish Draft Horse Association.
HomeWebsiteBryant Farrier Ltd The Pole Man Naturally Equine Advertising options