Postural tachycardia syndrome is associated with significant symptoms and functional impairment predominantly affecting young women, shows a recent UK study.
The cross-sectional study examined 136 patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), comparing demographic characteristics, symptoms and treatment of PoTS at one centre (n= 52) compared to the largest patient group PoTS UK (n= 84). Functional limitation as also compared with patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
The PoTS UK population was significantly younger than the clinic patients (mean age 32 versus 36 years), with significantly fewer men (3 males versus 84 females). Diagnosis age was not significantly different, with the PoTS UK population being diagnosed on average at the age of 30 compared with 33 in the PoTS clinic cohort, but time to diagnosis was significantly longer in the PoTS UK group compared with the clinic group due to the younger mean age of the group. Among all the participants, the most common treatment regimen included β-blockers. Overall, 21 treatment combinations were described but up to one third were taking no treatment.
The researchers noted that ‘patients with PoTS are predominantly women, young and have significant and debilitating symptoms that impact significantly on quality of life. But despite this there is no consistent treatment.’
