Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 4: A recent study from Sweden has confirmed a strong link between long Covid and a little-known heart rhythm disorder called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which causes the heart to beat abnormally fast when moving from lying down to standing up.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet found that nearly one in three people suffering from severe long Covid may be affected by POTS. The condition appears to disproportionately impact middle-aged women, most of whom were previously healthy and physically active.

“For people with POTS, simply standing up can cause a dramatic spike in heart rate, leading to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and brain fog — many of which overlap with long Covid,” said Mikael Björnson, a doctoral student at the Department of Medicine, Solna.

The study, published in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, analyzed 467 non-hospitalized patients with severe long Covid. Of them, 91% were middle-aged women. Findings revealed that:

• 31% were diagnosed with POTS
• 27% showed symptoms of POTS but didn’t meet the full diagnostic criteria
• 42% had no signs of the syndrome

Patients diagnosed with POTS had significantly elevated heart rates during physical activity and reported a notably lower quality of life.

Dr. Judith Bruchfeld, Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet, emphasized that POTS can be diagnosed using simple and inexpensive tests available in most healthcare settings. “For those diagnosed, treatment options do exist and can greatly improve quality of life,” she said.

The researchers recommend that individuals with long Covid who experience a rapid heart rate upon standing, fatigue, brain fog, or dizziness should be assessed for POTS as part of their ongoing care.