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Assessing symptom improvement in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) following a 16-week structured exercise programme : a protocol for a randomised cross-over trial in a clinical outpatient setting

Kharraziha, Isabella LU orcid ; Zulj, Rafael ; Holm, Hannes LU ; Fedorowski, Artur LU orcid and Hamrefors, Viktor LU orcid (2025) In BMJ Open 15(6).
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Exercise training is recommended as a complementary treatment in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) according to international guidelines. However, less is known regarding how exercise training could successfully be implemented in clinical practice in patients with POTS. Thus, in the current study, we aim to assess the effect of a 16-week tailored exercise training programme in POTS.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A total of 200 patients diagnosed with POTS will be recruited. The study will be conducted as a randomised cross-over study. POTS symptoms will be evaluated using the Malmö POTS Symptom Score, Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire and 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Haemodynamic parameters will be... (More)

INTRODUCTION: Exercise training is recommended as a complementary treatment in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) according to international guidelines. However, less is known regarding how exercise training could successfully be implemented in clinical practice in patients with POTS. Thus, in the current study, we aim to assess the effect of a 16-week tailored exercise training programme in POTS.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A total of 200 patients diagnosed with POTS will be recruited. The study will be conducted as a randomised cross-over study. POTS symptoms will be evaluated using the Malmö POTS Symptom Score, Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire and 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Haemodynamic parameters will be evaluated by orthostatic tests and maximum working capacity evaluated by bicycle exercise test. Symptoms, haemodynamic parameters and exercise capacity will be assessed before and after a 16-week training programme.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Swedish ethical review authority (2022-03186-01) and all procedures will be performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. Results will be made available to patients with POTS, healthcare professionals, the funders and other researchers in publicly available (open access) medical journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION DETAILS: NCT05554107, registered on 26 September 2022.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Humans, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome/therapy, Cross-Over Studies, Exercise Therapy/methods, Adult, Male, Female, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Exercise Test
in
BMJ Open
volume
15
issue
6
article number
e097057
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:40588382
ISSN
2044-6055
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097057
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.
id
e8bf2aee-f0ae-42e3-8209-61aa0ace04c8
date added to LUP
2025-07-07 16:27:42
date last changed
2025-07-08 11:27:08
@article{e8bf2aee-f0ae-42e3-8209-61aa0ace04c8,
  abstract     = {{<p>INTRODUCTION: Exercise training is recommended as a complementary treatment in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) according to international guidelines. However, less is known regarding how exercise training could successfully be implemented in clinical practice in patients with POTS. Thus, in the current study, we aim to assess the effect of a 16-week tailored exercise training programme in POTS.</p><p>METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A total of 200 patients diagnosed with POTS will be recruited. The study will be conducted as a randomised cross-over study. POTS symptoms will be evaluated using the Malmö POTS Symptom Score, Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire and 36-item Short Form Health Survey. Haemodynamic parameters will be evaluated by orthostatic tests and maximum working capacity evaluated by bicycle exercise test. Symptoms, haemodynamic parameters and exercise capacity will be assessed before and after a 16-week training programme.</p><p>ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Swedish ethical review authority (2022-03186-01) and all procedures will be performed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. Results will be made available to patients with POTS, healthcare professionals, the funders and other researchers in publicly available (open access) medical journals.</p><p>TRIAL REGISTRATION DETAILS: NCT05554107, registered on 26 September 2022.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kharraziha, Isabella and Zulj, Rafael and Holm, Hannes and Fedorowski, Artur and Hamrefors, Viktor}},
  issn         = {{2044-6055}},
  keywords     = {{Humans; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome/therapy; Cross-Over Studies; Exercise Therapy/methods; Adult; Male; Female; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Exercise Test}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{6}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{BMJ Open}},
  title        = {{Assessing symptom improvement in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) following a 16-week structured exercise programme : a protocol for a randomised cross-over trial in a clinical outpatient setting}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097057}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097057}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}