Overview

• Nearly one-third of highly symptomatic long COVID patients were diagnosed with POTS, far exceeding the pre-pandemic prevalence of under 1% in Sweden.
• The prospective analysis assessed 467 non-hospitalized patients about 12 months after infection with targeted cardiology evaluations when POTS was suspected.
• The cohort was overwhelmingly middle-aged women, with 91% female participation among individuals previously healthy and active.
• Those diagnosed showed higher heart rates during walking tests along with reduced exercise capacity and lower health-related quality of life.
• Authors recommend systematic screening with inexpensive tests, note available symptom-relieving treatments, and plan 4–5 year follow-ups including previously hospitalized patients.