The evidence for treatments for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: a systematic review of randomized trials

Abstract

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is defined as the presence of chronic symptoms of orthostatic intolerance accompanied by an increase in heart rate greater than 30 beats per minute within 10 min of assuming an upright posture in the absences of orthostatic hypotension. It is a condition which lacks a definitive treatment strategy, with weak evidence and clinical expertise to support the available guidelines from the Heart Rhythm Society in 2015 and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society in 2020. The limited systematic reviews evaluating the treatment for POTS only reported three or fewer trials when many more trials have been published. In this systematic review, we evaluate the evidence for different treatments for POTS from 21 randomized clinical trials with 750 patients that took place between 2000 and 2023. This review summarizes the available evidence from trials on propranolol, midodrine, pyridostigmine and ivabradine as well as less commonly used medications such as desmopressin, melatonin, atomoxetine, modafinil, sertraline and intravenous immunoglobulins. Moreover, the trial evidence for non-pharmacological treatments is described including increase intake of dietary sodium, exercise training, compression and devices. We conclude that many small trials have evaluated different treatments for POTS. Large randomized trials are needed to determine if mainstay treatments beta-blockers, midodrine, and pyridostigmine should be used as first line treatment(s).

Keywords: Compression; Devices; Diet; Exercise; Medications; Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome; Randomized clinical trials; Therapy; Treatment.