Associations of sex, breed, and age with cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy in horses: 811 cases (1974-2007).
OBJECTIVE
To determine sex, breed, and age distributions in a population of horses with cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM), compared with contemporaneous control horses.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
811 horses with CVCM and 805 control horses.


METHODS
The Veterinary Medical Database was searched to identify horses with CVCM and contemporaneous control horses registered between July 1974 and August 2007. Admission date, admitting institution, sex, breed, age at the time of registration in the database, weight, and discharge status (alive, died, or euthanized) were recorded for each case and control horse.


RESULTS
On the basis of results of multivariable logistic regression analysis, geldings and sexually intact males had a significantly higher likelihood of having CVCM than females (odds ratio [OR], 2.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 2.6]; and OR, 2.4 [95% confidence interval, 1.8 to 3.2], respectively). Thoroughbreds, Tennessee Walking Horses, and Warm-bloods were overrepresented in the CVCM group, compared with Quarter Horses. Horses that ranged from < 6 months to < 7 years of age had significantly higher odds of having CVCM, compared with horses > or = 10 years of age.


CONCLUSIONS
Sex, breed, and age predilections were detected in horses with CVCM. Improved understanding of these factors will aid clinical recognition of the disease in groups that may have a high prevalence of CVCM or were previously not recognized to be commonly affected. The results may also stimulate future investigations to further delineate etiopathogenesis, such as breed-related genetic causality.
Levine
Jonathan M
JM
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Ngheim
Peter P
PP
Levine
Gwendolyn J
GJ
Cohen
Noah D
ND
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*