Cumulative omeprazole administration is associated with increased hazard of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage detection in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Jones Olivia J OJ, Ahern Benjamin J BJ, Stewart Brian D BD, Morton John M JM et al.
To evaluate associations between cumulative oral omeprazole administration and the occurrence of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), epistaxis, atrial fibrillation, and fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses. A retrospective cohort study of 2,924 Thoroughbred racehorses in training in Hong Kong during the 2012-2013 and 2022-2023 racing seasons was performed with veterinary, training, and racing records. Time-to-event analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazards models, with cumulative omeprazole dose fitted as a time-varying covariate and adjustment for trainer, recent training intensity, racing year, and age at first trackwork. Cumulative omeprazole administration during the preceding 30 days was associated with an increased hazard of EIPH detection (hazard ratio, 1.08 for each 10-g increase; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.15). A similar direction of association was observed for epistaxis (hazard ratio, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.45). Effect estimates were close to null for associations between cumulative omeprazole administration and fracture (hazard ratio, 1.02 for each 10-g increase over 60 days; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.17) or atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio, 1.02 for each 10-g increase over 30 days; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.20). Recent cumulative omeprazole administration was not associated with fracture or atrial fibrillation in this population of Thoroughbred racehorses. However, recent omeprazole administration was associated with an increased hazard of EIPH detection. These findings supported careful consideration of the indication and duration of omeprazole administration in racehorses, particularly when administered prophylactically.