Abstract
Mitral and aortic valve insufficiencies have been commonly reported in horses. The objective of this study was to establish the use of acoustic cardiography (Audicor(®)) in horses with aortic (AI) or mitral valve insufficiency (MI). A total of 17 healthy horses, 18 horses with AI, and 28 horses with MI were prospectively included. None of the horses was in heart failure. Echocardiography and Audicor(®) analyses were conducted. Electromechanical activating time (EMAT), rate-corrected EMATc, left ventricular systolic time (LVST), rate-corrected LVSTc, and intensity and persistence of the third and fourth heart sound (S3, S4) were reported by Audicor(®). Graphical analysis of the three-dimensional (3D) phonocardiogram served to visually detect murmurs. Audicor(®) snapshot variables were compared between groups using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple-comparisons test. The association between Audicor(®) snapshot variables and the corresponding echocardiographic variables was investigated by linear regression and Bland-Altman analyses. Heart murmurs were not displayed on Audicor(®) phonocardiograms. No significant differences were found between Audicor(®) variables obtained in clinically healthy horses and horses with valvular insufficiency. The Audicor(®) device is unable to detect heart murmurs in horses. Audicor(®) variables representing cardiac function are not markedly altered, and their association with corresponding echocardiographic variables is poor in horses with valvular insufficiency that are not in heart failure.