Dysphagia Symptoms in Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): A Qualitative Study.

Background

Difficulty swallowing is a common complaint in patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), but there are no qualitative studies that examine dysphagia in patients with POTS, resulting in a significant gap in clinical understanding and research.

Methods

A structured interview of patients with autonomic disorders was conducted utilizing the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI).

Results

Eleven participants (age range 21-71, mean age 46 years, eight women) were selected using purposive sampling through online support communities and referrals from Dysautonomia Clinic. All had POTS, and eight had comorbid Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The data gathered from participants were used to construct thematic descriptions of their lived experiences. The mean DHI score in this cohort was 4.5, indicating significant impairment in swallowing. Four themes emerged from the participant narratives: (1) the negative physical impact of dysphagia, (2) the negative psychological impact of dysphagia, (3) the impact on daily life and relationships, and (4) reduced healthcare satisfaction.

Conclusions

We found significant impairment due to reported dysphagia symptoms in patients with POTS. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology, severity and type of dysphagia in POTS and to develop targeted therapies.