Compression Garment Reduces Orthostatic Tachycardia and Symptoms in Patients With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

BACKGROUND Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic form of orthostatic intolerance associated with a significant symptom burden. Compression garments are a frequently prescribed treatment, but the effectiveness of waist-high compression has not been evaluated in adults with POTS. OBJECTIVES This study evaluated compression garments as a treatment for POTS using a head-up tilt test (HUT), and a noninflatable core and lower body compression garment. METHODS Thirty participants completed 10-min HUT with each of 4 compression conditions in a randomized crossover design. The conditions were no compression (NONE), lower leg compression (LEG), abdominal/thigh compression (ABDO), and full abdominal/leg compression (FULL). Heart rate, beat-to-beat blood pressure, and Vanderbilt Orthostatic Symptom Score ratings were measured during each HUT. RESULTS The compression garment reduced heart rate (NONE: 109 +/- 19 beats/min; LEG: 103 +/- 16 beats/min; ABDO: 97 +/- 15 beats/min; FULL: 92 +/- 14 beats/min; p < 0.001) and improved symptoms (p < 0.001) during HUT in a dose-dependent manner. During HUT, stroke volume and systolic blood pressure were better maintained with FULL and ABDO compression compared with LEG and NONE compression. CONCLUSIONS Abdominal and lower body compression reduced heart rate and improved symptoms during HUT in adult patients with POTS. These effects were driven by improved stroke volume with compression. Abdominal compression alone might also provide a clinical benefit if full lower body compression is not well tolerated. (C) 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Automated summary

Compression garments reduced heart rate and improved symptoms in adult patients with POTS during HUT, with the effects being driven by improved stroke volume. Abdominal compression alone may also provide a clinical benefit if full lower body compression is not well tolerated.