Hotchkiss J W, Reid S W J, Christley R M
Division of Companion Animals, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.
Equine Vet J. 2007 Jul;39(4):301-8. doi: 10.2746/042516407x180129.
Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a commonly encountered respiratory condition of horses. Despite this, the epidemiology of this predominately manageable and reversible disease in Great Britain has been largely ignored.
To estimate the prevalence of RAO in the general horse population of Great Britain and to investigate possible risk factors for RAO associated with management or early life.
Horse owners were surveyed using a self-administered postal questionnaire that contained a risk-screening questionnaire (RSQ) designed to identify horses with RAO. These owners were randomly selected, following geographical stratification, using 2-stage cluster sampling of veterinary practices and their clients. Multilevel, multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate risk factors for RAO in the selected horse population.
The estimated true prevalence of RAO in the selected horse population was 14.0% (95%CI 10.7-17.4%). Risk factors for RAO identified in a general horse management logistic regression model included increasing age and exposure to an urbanised environment. Recurrent airway obstruction has long been associated with mature horses while the association with an urbanised environment could be related to different management practices in these areas or possibly air pollution could be involved. The second model associated exposure to hay and respiratory infection in early life with a horse having RAO in later life. Challenges to the respiratory system in early life may be involved in the development of this disease.
Recurrent airway obstruction is a significant health problem in the horse population of Great Britain. This form of epidemiological investigation highlights potential risk factors for the disease.
复发性气道阻塞（RAO）是马匹中常见的呼吸道疾病。尽管如此，在英国，这种大多可控制且可逆的疾病的流行病学在很大程度上被忽视了。
估计英国普通马匹群体中RAO的患病率，并调查与管理或早期生活相关的RAO可能的风险因素。
通过自我填写的邮政问卷对马主进行调查，问卷中包含一份旨在识别患有RAO的马匹的风险筛查问卷（RSQ）。在地理分层后，采用兽医诊所及其客户的两阶段整群抽样方法随机选择这些马主。使用多水平、多变量逻辑回归模型来调查所选马匹群体中RAO的风险因素。
所选马匹群体中RAO的估计真实患病率为14.0%（95%置信区间10.7 - 17.4%）。在一般马匹管理逻辑回归模型中确定的RAO风险因素包括年龄增长和接触城市化环境。长期以来，复发性气道阻塞一直与成年马匹有关，而与城市化环境的关联可能与这些地区不同的管理方式有关，或者可能涉及空气污染。第二个模型将早期生活中接触干草和呼吸道感染与马匹后期患RAO联系起来。早期生活中呼吸系统受到的挑战可能与这种疾病的发展有关。
复发性气道阻塞是英国马匹群体中的一个重大健康问题。这种形式的流行病学调查突出了该疾病的潜在风险因素。
