Table 1 Patient characteristics

Number of horses

29

23

21

13

57

Age (years)

8 ± 4^a

14 ± 6^b

P = 0.001

15 ± 6^b

P < 0.001

16 ± 6^b

P < 0.001

15 ± 6

Body weight (kg)

566 ± 48

548 ± 61

542 ± 72

559 ± 78

548 ± 68

Height at withers (cm)

168 ± 4

166 ± 6

167 ± 7

169 ± 8

167 ± 7

Heart rate (beats/min)

40 ± 7

40 ± 6

39 ± 6

42 ± 10

40 ± 7

LVIDd (500) (cm)

11.1 (9.9–13.5)^a

11.2 (9.5–13.2)^a

12.4 (10.7–13.5)^b

P < 0.022

13.7 (12.4–18.9)^bP < 0.001

12.2 (9.5–18.9)

LVIDs (500) (cm)

6.4 (4.6–8.1)^a

6.4 (4.4–8.1)^a

7.3 (6.0–8.5)^bP < 0.027

8.5 (6.1–10.8)^bP < 0.001

7.1 (4.4–10.8)

FS (%)

43 ± 6

44 ± 7

41 ± 5

39 ± 11

41 ± 7

EF (%)

72 (49–83)

71 (50–86)

69 (61–76)

70 (39–80)

70 (39–86)