Abstract
A case-control study and a retrospective cohort study were conducted at the Texas Veterinary Medical Center between January 1, 1986 and December 31, 1991 and between January 1, 1992 and December 31, 1992 respectively. The case-control study used logistic regression to assess age, breed, sex, and seasonality as risk factors for equine laminitis. There were 70 acute cases, 183 chronic cases, and 779 controls. No statistical association was found between age, breed, sex, or seasonality and the occurrence of acute laminitis. For chronic cases, the estimated relative risk was found to be statistically significant for age (OR=1.05, 95% CI (1.02,1.08)) and for the diagnosis of laminitis in the third quarter of the year (OR=2.57, 95% CI (1.55,4.25)) relative to the first quarter. There was no statistical association between breed or sex and chronic laminitis. The cohort study assessed hypotension during surgical celiotomy as a risk factor for acute laminitis. Of the 102 horses in the cohort, only 2 developed acute laminitis post operatively. No statistical tests were performed because of the small number of cases.
Polzer, John Patrick (1995). Risk factors for equine laminitis. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1995 -THESIS -P654.