The effect of intravenous fluids administered prior to competition: A randomized clinical.

BACKGROUND: Administration of intravenous fluids prior to competition is common at major equestrian competitions, yet few studies have evaluated the benefits of this practice. AIMS/OBJECTIVE: The hypothesis was that pre-ride intravenous fluid therapy would be associated with a lower heart rate and improved laboratory hydration parameters during or after the ride. METHODS: 14 client owned horses entered in a 45 km ride in extreme heat and terrain were randomly assigned to receive IV fluids (IVF) or no IV fluids (NIV) the day before the ride. Blood samples and physical examination findings were collected at 6 time points: Home (T0), check in the day before the ride (T1), 2-3 hours after catheterization and treatment (T2), 1 hour pre-ride (T3), 32km into the ride (T4), and the end of the ride (T5). Physical examination and laboratory parameters (bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, glucose, lactate, BUN, creatinine, PCV and total protein) were evaluated using 2-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The total protein concentration at T2 was 0.5 g/dL lower in the IVF group (95% CI, -1.0 to -0.01 g/dL) compared with the NIV. The BUN concentration at T4 was 4 mg/dL lower in the IVF group (p = 0.02; 95% CI, -7.3 to -0.9 mg/dL) compared with the NIV. There was no significant difference in heart rates between the IVF and NIV group (36 ± 5 bpm and 39 ± 3bpm, respectively; p= 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: The use of intravenous fluids prior to riding in extreme conditions may not have clinically significant hydration benefits.