Standing heart rates reveal overlap between long COVID and POTS
Dizziness, fatigue, brain fog and a racing heart. They're commonly associated with long COVID, but new Adelaide University research suggests that for some people, these symptoms may also be indications of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a debilitating and difficult-to-diagnose condition.
A recent study conducted by Adelaide University researchers, in collaboration with SAHMRI, has found that around two-thirds (62.5%) of individuals with long COVID also exhibit symptoms and diagnostic criteria for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, compared heart rate changes, symptoms, and immune profiles among people with POTS, long COVID, and healthy participants.
The researchers found that on standing, average heart rates rose by 46 beats per minute in the POTS group and 35 beats per minute in the long COVID group, compared to just 13 beats per minute in healthy volunteers. Lead researcher Dr. Marie-Claire Seeley suggests that these findings could have important implications for how people with long COVID are assessed and treated, as POTS can often be a contributing factor to debilitating symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and a racing heart.
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