McDonald Claire, Koshi Sharon, Busner Lorna, Kavi Lesley, Newton Julia L
Institute for Ageing & Health, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
PoTs UK, www.potsuk.org.
BMJ Open. 2014 Jun 16;4(6):e004127. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004127.
To examine a large UK cohort of patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), to compare demographic characteristics, symptoms and treatment of PoTS at one centre compared to the largest patient group PoTS UK and to verify if their functional limitation is similar to patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
A cross-sectional study assessed the frequency of symptoms and their associated variables.
Two PoTS cohorts were: (1) recruited via PoTS UK, (2) diagnosed at Newcastle Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust 2009-2012. Patients with PoTS were then compared to a matched cohort with CFS.
Patients' detailed demographics, time to diagnosis, education, disability, medications, comorbidity and precipitants. Symptom assessment tools captured, Fatigue Impact Scale, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Orthostatic Grading Scale (OGS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire.
136 patients with PoTS participated (84 members of PoTS UK (170 cohort; 50% return) and 52 (87 cohort; 60%) from Newcastle Clinics). The PoTS UK population was significantly younger than the clinic patients, with significantly fewer men (p=0.005). Over 60% had a university or postgraduate degree. Significantly more of the PoTS UK cohort were working, with hours worked being significantly higher (p=0.001). Time to diagnosis was significantly longer in the PoTS UK cohort (p=0.04). Symptom severity was comparable between cohorts. The PoTS total group was compared with a matched CFS cohort; despite comparable levels of fatigue and sleepiness, autonomic symptom burden (OGS) was statistically significantly higher. The most common treatment regime included β-blockers. Overall, 21 treatment combinations were described. Up to 1/3 were taking no treatment.
Patients with PoTS are predominantly women, young, well educated and have significant and debilitating symptoms that impact significantly on quality of life. Despite this, there is no consistent treatment.
对英国一大群姿势性心动过速综合征（PoTS）患者进行研究，比较一个中心的PoTS患者的人口统计学特征、症状及治疗情况与英国最大的PoTS患者群体，并验证其功能受限情况是否与慢性疲劳综合征（CFS）患者相似。
一项横断面研究评估症状频率及其相关变量。
两个PoTS队列：（1）通过英国PoTS招募；（2）2009 - 2012年在纽卡斯尔医院国民健康服务（NHS）基金会信托机构确诊。然后将PoTS患者与匹配的CFS队列进行比较。
患者详细的人口统计学资料、诊断时间、教育程度、残疾情况、用药情况、合并症及诱发因素。采用症状评估工具，包括疲劳影响量表、爱泼华嗜睡量表、直立分级量表（OGS）、医院焦虑抑郁量表、健康评估问卷、认知失误问卷。
136例PoTS患者参与研究（84例来自英国PoTS群体（共170例队列；回复率50%），52例（共87例队列；回复率60%）来自纽卡斯尔诊所）。英国PoTS群体比诊所患者显著年轻，男性显著更少（p = 0.005）。超过60%拥有大学或研究生学历。英国PoTS队列中有工作的人数显著更多，工作时长显著更长（p = 0.001）。英国PoTS队列的诊断时间显著更长（p = 0.04）。各队列间症状严重程度相当。将PoTS总群体与匹配的CFS队列进行比较；尽管疲劳和嗜睡水平相当，但自主神经症状负担（OGS）在统计学上显著更高。最常见的治疗方案包括β受体阻滞剂。总体而言，描述了21种治疗组合。高达1/3的患者未接受治疗。
PoTS患者主要为女性，年轻，受过良好教育，有显著且使人衰弱的症状，对生活质量有重大影响。尽管如此，尚无一致的治疗方法。
