A Scoping Review of Non-Structural Airway Disease as a Cause of Poor Performance in Racehorses.
Authors: Cullinane Ann, Garvey Marie, Walsh Cathal, Gibbons James, Creighton Alan
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Poor performance in racehorses frequently prompts investigation of respiratory disease, yet much clinical decision-making relies on anecdotal rather than evidence-based findings when structural airway abnormalities have been excluded. Cullinane and colleagues conducted a scoping review across three major databases, ultimately analysing 20 publications using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool to assess the strength of evidence linking non-structural respiratory conditions to performance decline. Whilst equine asthma and exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) are commonly implicated in performance problems, the review found conflicting and highly variable evidence supporting these associations—a concerning gap given how frequently these conditions influence management decisions in racing yards. A significant barrier to drawing robust conclusions emerged: the lack of standardised performance measurement across studies makes it nearly impossible to synthesise findings or compare interventions meaningfully. The racing industry would benefit substantially from establishing consensus guidelines for controlled performance studies that employ consistent metrics and collect comprehensive data, enabling practitioners to move beyond clinical intuition towards evidence-based protocols for diagnosing and treating respiratory contributions to poor performance.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •When assessing poor performance in racehorses without structural airway abnormalities, be aware that current evidence linking specific diagnostic tests to performance outcomes is inconsistent and anecdotal — do not rely on single tests for definitive diagnosis
- •Standardized performance metrics are urgently needed across the racing industry to properly evaluate the true impact of conditions like equine asthma and EIPH on individual horses
- •Request or advocate for higher-quality, controlled performance studies in your racing practice and facility to better inform evidence-based intervention decisions rather than relying on current variable evidence
Key Findings
- •Of 996 publications identified, only 20 met criteria for detailed analysis using the QUIPS tool, indicating limited high-quality evidence in this field
- •Evidence supporting the relationship between proposed diagnostic indicators of non-structural airway disease and poor performance is variable and often conflicting
- •Conflicting reports exist regarding the impact of equine asthma and EIPH on athletic performance in Thoroughbreds
- •Lack of standardization in measuring racehorse performance across studies makes comparison of findings and meta-analysis impossible