Biological sex-dependent differences in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome POTS, 2025, Seeley et al.

[SNT Gatchaman]

Biological sex-dependent differences in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome POTS
Seeley, Marie-Claire; Wilson, Gemma; Ong, Eric; Langdon, Amy; Chieng, Jonathan; Bailey, Danielle; Comacchio, Kristina; Page, Amanda; Lau, Dennis; Gallagher, Celine

AIMS
This prospective, cross-sectional study aimed to identify sex-based differences in diagnostic and symptom experiences in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

METHODS AND RESULTS
Data from participants ≥16 years with physician-confirmed POTS enrolled in the Australian POTS registry between 1st May 2021 and 30th April 2024 were analysed. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the EuroQol 5 Dimension tool. Composite autonomic symptom score (COMPASS-31) assessed autonomic symptom burden. Self-reported sociodemographic and diagnostic journey data informed diagnostic experiences. In total, 452 females (mean age 31.4 ± 11.4 years) and 48 males (mean age 31.1 ± 14.6 years) were included. Females experienced worse autonomic symptom burden (total COMPASS-31; 50.5 ± 13.7 vs 42.4 ± 16.4 for men; P < 0.001). Both sexes interacted with an equivocal number of doctors (P = 0.763) and emergency departments (P = 0.830) before diagnosis. Females had significantly longer diagnostic delays than men (7.0 ± 8.6 vs 3.8 ± 5.4 years; P = 0.010) and were 1.2.7 times more likely to experience ≥10 years of diagnostic delay (95% CI; 1.1-6.6). Despite the diagnostic latency and worse symptom burden, females reported similar, anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life to men (global health rating where ‘100’ = full health; females, 46.2 ± 20.4 vs males, 43.7 ± 23.6; P = 0.485).

CONCLUSION
Females and males with POTS experience significant differences in autonomic symptom burden and diagnostic delay. These differences do not seem to arise from sex-based variations in health-seeking behaviour or symptom reporting but rather indicate the influence of clinician-dependent factors. Further research is needed to explore how clinician attitudes may impact sex-dependent differences in diagnosis and treatment outcomes for those with POTS.

REGISTRATION
ANZCTR:12621001034820

Link | PDF (European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing) [Open Access]

 

[Hutan]

The link isn't working, the PDF is marked 'manuscript'.

Both sexes interacted with an equivocal number of doctors (P = 0.763) and emergency departments (P = 0.830) before diagnosis.

Maybe they are fixing some typos?

 

[Wyva]

The link isn't working, the PDF is marked 'manuscript'.


Maybe they are fixing some typos?

I encounter this error page every once in a while when checking the Hungarian repositories and I have no idea what is going on when it shows up. (Maybe the study is not "indexed" yet?) However, when I google the title of the study, it is easy to find it in the journal. In this particular case as well, here is the link:

https://academic.oup.com/eurjcn/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurjcn/zvaf048/8095354

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

Odd: the PDF link works fine for me just now, but the paper's preferred/canonical URL doesn't (https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurjcn/zvaf048). I got to it using the link Wyva worked out too - I think we're just a shade ahead of doi.org being updated, which is typically within 24 hours. Often it's best to go with the preferred DOI as URLs with "advance-article" or similar in the path sometimes break once the journal re-organises things.

 

[rvallee]

These differences do not seem to arise from sex-based variations in health-seeking behaviour or symptom reporting but rather indicate the influence of clinician-dependent factors

Big yikes. Not surprising, but something that requires deep self-reflection and changes in attitudes.

 

[Utsikt]

Big yikes. Not surprising, but something that requires deep self-reflection and changes in attitudes.

Which means that they would probably prefer to produce papers about how to deal with the bothersome patients..