Long Covid linked to higher risk of unusual heart rhythm disorder: Study
text_fields
New Delhi: People with long Covid are significantly more likely to develop an unusual heart rhythm disorder known as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), according to new research.
POTS, which causes the heart to beat abnormally fast when moving from lying down to standing, was found to affect nearly one in three patients with severe long Covid. The condition, which makes standing up difficult, is also associated with fatigue and problems with concentration, both common symptoms of long Covid.
The study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden revealed that the disorder is far more common in middle-aged women than men. It assessed 467 people with severe long Covid who had not been hospitalised for the infection.
Of the participants, 91 per cent were previously healthy and physically active middle-aged women. Thirty-one per cent were diagnosed with POTS, while 27 per cent displayed symptoms without meeting the diagnostic criteria. The remaining 42 per cent showed no signs of the condition.
“Previous, smaller studies have shown that there is a connection, but now we can say with certainty that POTS is a very common condition in patients with long Covid. This is valuable knowledge for both health care professionals and patients,” said Mikael Björnson, doctoral student at Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Medicine in Solna.
Those diagnosed with POTS recorded significantly higher heart rates during walking tests and reported poorer quality of life compared to others.
Judith Bruchfeld, Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet, stressed the importance of recognising the condition early. “It is important to know that POTS can be detected with inexpensive, simple tests that are available at all levels of health care. For those who receive a diagnosis, there are treatments that can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life,” she said.
The findings, published in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, highlight the need to investigate long Covid patients who experience rapid increases in heart rate when standing, along with dizziness, brain fog and severe fatigue.