A new study from Karolinska Institutet finds that a heart rhythm disorder called POTS is common in people suffering from long COVID.
Most of the affected individuals are middle-aged women. The findings were published in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, is a condition where the heart beats too fast when a person moves from lying down to standing up.
This can cause dizziness and a strong desire to sit or lie down, known as orthostatic intolerance.
People with POTS also experience increased heart rates at rest or during physical activity, along with fatigue and trouble concentrating—symptoms that are often seen in long COVID.
The new study shows that almost one in three patients with severe long COVID have POTS. Before the pandemic, fewer than 1% of people in Sweden were affected by POTS.
“Previous small studies showed a possible link, but now we can confidently say that POTS is common among long COVID patients,” said Mikael Björnson, a researcher at Karolinska Institutet.
The study included 467 patients with severe long COVID who had not been hospitalized. Most of them—91%—were middle-aged women who were healthy and active before getting sick.
Around 12 months after their infection, they were given health tests and completed surveys. Those showing signs of POTS were evaluated by a cardiologist.
The results were striking: 31% were diagnosed with POTS, 27% had symptoms but not enough for a full diagnosis, and 42% had no signs of the condition. Those diagnosed had higher heart rates during walking tests and reported worse quality of life.
According to Judith Bruchfeld, the study lead and senior consultant in infectious diseases, POTS can be detected using simple and low-cost tests available in most healthcare settings. Treatments are also available to ease the symptoms and help improve daily life.
The researchers recommend that people with long COVID who feel very tired, dizzy, or mentally foggy—especially when standing or being active—should be checked for POTS.
The team will now follow the patients over four to five years and also study those who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 to understand recovery patterns and long-term effects.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about a new cause of heart rhythm disorders and eating just one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables daily can reduce heart disease risk.
For more about heart health, please read studies about blood thinners that may not prevent stroke in people with heartbeat problems and this diabetes drug may protect heart health in older veterans.
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