Postural orthostatic tachycardia is not a useful diagnostic marker for chronic fatigue syndrome

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Title:	Postural orthostatic tachycardia is not a useful diagnostic marker for chronic fatigue syndrome
Author(s):	Roerink, M.E.; Lenders, J.W.M. ; Schmits, I.C.; Pistorius, A.M.A. ; Smit, J.W. ; Knoop, H. ; Meer, J.W.M. van der
Publication year:	2017
Source:	Journal of Internal Medicine, vol. 281, iss. 2, (2017), pp. 179-188
ISSN:	0954-6820
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12564
Publication type:	Article / Letter to editor
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item : http://hdl.handle.net/2066/169786
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Subject:	Radboudumc 16: Vascular damage RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences Radboudumc 18: Healthcare improvement science RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences Radboudumc 19: Nanomedicine RIMLS: Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences Radboudumc 3: Disorders of movement DCMN: Donders Center for Medical Neuroscience Radboudumc 4: lnfectious Diseases and Global Health RIMLS: Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences
Organization:	Internal Medicine Medical Psychology CMBI Biochemistry (UMC)
Journal title:	Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume:	vol. 281
Issue:	iss. 2
Page start:	p. 179
Page end:	p. 188
Abstract:	BACKGROUND: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is considered a diagnostic marker for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to (i) compare POTS prevalence in a CFS cohort with fatigued patients not meeting CFS criteria, and (ii) assess activity, impairment and response to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in CFS patients with POTS (POTS-CFS) and without POTS (non-POTS-CFS). METHODS: Prospective cohort study at the Radboud University Medical Centre in the Netherlands. Between June 2013 and December 2014, 863 consecutive patients with persistent fatigue were screened. Patients underwent an active standing test, filled out questionnaires and wore an activity-sensing device for a period of 12 days. RESULTS: A total of 419 patients with CFS and 341 non-CFS fatigued patients were included in the study. POTS prevalence in adult patients with CFS was 5.7% vs. 6.9% in non-CFS adults (P = 0.54). In adolescents, prevalence rates were 18.2% and 17.4%, respectively (P = 0.93). Adult patients with POTS-CFS were younger (30 +/- 12 vs. 40 +/- 13 years, P = 0.001) and had a higher supine heart rate (71 +/- 11 vs. 65 +/- 9 beats per min, P = 0.009) compared with non-POTS-CFS patients. Severity and activity patterns did not differ between groups. In patients with CFS, criteria for Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID) were met in 76% of adults and 67% of adolescents. In these patients with CFS fulfilling the SEID criteria, the prevalence of POTS was not different from that in the overall CFS population. POTS-CFS adolescents had less clinically significant improvement after CBT than non-POTS-CFS adolescents (58% vs. 88%, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: In adults with CFS, the prevalence of POTS was low, was not different from the rate in non-CFS fatigued patients and was not related to disease severity or treatment outcome. In POTS-CFS adolescents, CBT was less successful than in non-POTS-CFS patients. The evaluation of POTS appears to be of limited value for the diagnosis of CFS.