Are the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome diagnostic criteria limiting? Defining and comparing patient reported outcomes of an Australian cohort with postural symptoms without tachycardia

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition affecting the autonomic nervous system — the part of the body that controls automatic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. People with POTS typically experience a very fast heart rate when standing up, along with symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, and fainting. However, some people experience all of these symptoms without meeting the strict heart rate criteria for a POTS diagnosis, and it is unclear whether their experiences and quality of life are similarly affected. This study is exploring the symptom burden, quality of life, and health outcomes of people with 'postural symptoms without tachycardia' (PSWT) and comparing them to a cohort of patients with confirmed POTS. The researchers are using existing data from the Australian OZ-POTS registry to understand whether the current diagnostic criteria for POTS may be excluding people who are equally impacted. This is a registry-based study using previously collected data — no new procedures are required. You may be eligible if you are aged 18 or older, have had a thorough cardiac evaluation including a standing test, ECG, echocardiogram, and Holter monitor, and have consented for your de-identified data to be used in research. You must be able to complete patient-reported surveys in English. Non-English speakers or those who have not provided consent for their data to be used in research would not be eligible.