Studies have found that people are at increased risk of developing the heart disease POTS after being infected with COVID-19.
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People may be more likely to develop debilitating heart disease After COVID-19 infectionfound a new study published on Monday, December 12.
condition, POTS (Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) is a nervous system disorder in which a person’s heart beats rapidly within 10 minutes of standing up, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. It has been viewed as a potential long-term COVID condition, with symptoms known to worsen, such as lightheadedness and fainting, the study notes.
the study They also found that getting vaccinated against coronavirus was associated with greater risk. Likelihood of developing POTS However, according to a news release about the study, which involved researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, it was “to a lesser extent.”
Still, “the risk remains higher after infection than after vaccination,” said the study. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Cardiovascular Research.
Findings come as the US approaches 100 million people. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 Since the start of the pandemic, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of December 14 show.
A study found that people were more likely to develop POTS three months after vaccination, but more than five times more likely after being infected with COVID-19 than after vaccination.
Researchers analyzed 284,592 vaccinated individuals and 12,460 who contracted COVID-19 between 2020 and 2022. Participants were Cedars-Sinai Health System patients.
“While the main message here confirms the potential link between COVID-19 vaccination and POTS, prevention of COVID-19 by vaccination still increases the risk of developing POTS. It’s the best way to mitigate it,” said lead study author Alan C. Kwan, PhD. said in a statement.
Kwan added that this possible link is “relatively slim.”
Previously, POTS was develop after viral illnessaccording to the UK National Health Service, alongside a traumatic event during or after pregnancy, and another underlying medical condition such as diabetes or cancer.
Survey and POTS details
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, POTS can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms span multiple organ systems. Other symptoms include extreme fatigue, brain fog, headaches, nausea and vomiting, and tremors.
Another study author and POTS expert, Dr. Peng-Sheng Chen, said in a statement:
Of the 12,460 patients known to have COVID-19, those who later had a POTS-related diagnosis were considered slightly older, according to the study.
Of the 284,592 people who were vaccinated, the survey found that 62% had the Pfizer vaccine, 31% had the Moderna vaccine, 6.9% had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and less than 1% had AstraZeneca, Novovax, Other vaccines, such as Sinovac, were given.
For this group, researchers found that POTS ranked among the top five conditions likely to affect these individuals after vaccination. Other conditions included myocarditis, dysautonomia, mast cell activation syndrome, and urinary tract infections, the study revealed.
The study authors emphasized that their findings do not imply that COVID-19 vaccination causes POTS. Their study was observational and they call for further investigation.
A new POTS diagnosis after vaccination is reported in the medical literature This includes those related to Gardasil’s human papillomavirus vaccine.
“As clinicians, we recognize that side effects from vaccines, while still rare overall, can vary in type and severity.” Clearer data and better understanding. Ultimately, we hope to strengthen trust in health care, quality of care, and communication about vaccines.”
One of the limitations of the study was the ‘generalizability’ of the findings, as the findings were restricted to Cedars-Sinai Health System patients.
About half a million to three million people in the United States were known to have POTS before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a paper on this study.
“Avoiding triggers,” such as standing for long periods of time, exposure to hot or cold temperatures, and drinking alcohol, can help people manage POTS, Chen said.
there is There is no cure for POTSaccording to the Mayo Clinic.
This story was originally published December 14, 2022 at 11:15 am.
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Julia Marnin is a McClatchy National Real Time Reporter based in New York, covering the Southeast and Northeast. She is a graduate of the University of New Jersey and in 2021 she joined McClatchy. Previously, she has contributed to Newsweek, Modern Luxury, Gannett, and more.
