Research Briefs

New studies are released every day! I find the most helpful research and make it easy for you to understand and use to make yourself feel better. Share with your doctor, coach, friends and/or teachers.

Post-COVID postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

Sep 11, 2025

What they did:

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic reviewed medical records (called a “chart review”) of 16

adults who developed POTS after COVID-19. Each person had symptoms that met standard

diagnostic criteria and a positive tilt-table test.

What they found:

Most were women (81%) around age 36. About 75% had a confirmed COVID infection.
The most bothersome symptoms were:
Palpitations (a fast, pounding heartbeat when standing)—in ~69% of patients
Fatigue—in ~63%
Shortness of breath—in ~38%
Common health issues they already had included migraines (38%), IBS (19%), and Raynaud’s phenomenon (19%).
Tests and exams (like neurological exams or other autonomic tests) were all over thenplace—not everyone showed the same patterns

On questionnaires:

COMPASS-31 (measuring autonomic nerve symptoms) averaged 44.5—showingv0high symptom burden.
PROMIS fatigue survey averaged 64.6, which is notably higher than average (50 is typical).

Why it matters for you:

Post-COVID POTS is real. People in this study had the same symptoms and medical test patterns as typical POTS patients.
Fatigue and palpitations are the worst symptoms. These two keep people from feelingwell or carrying out normal activities.
Everyone is different. Some might have migraines or gut issues alongside POTS, but not everyone. Tests and exams don’t follow one pattern, which means doctors need to listen to each person’s story and symptoms.
Taking patient-reported symptoms seriously matters. These surveys help doctors understand how POTS affects daily life and what improvements would feel meaningful to you.