A new study found that twice as many children were diagnosed with POTS (a condition that makes your heart race when you stand up) during COVID compared to before the pandemic. The researchers looked at 117 kids and found that those diagnosed during COVID were less active, spent more time on screens, and felt more anxious. This suggests that staying inside, being less active, and dealing with pandemic stress may have triggered this heart condition in many children.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How many kids got diagnosed with POTS (a heart condition) before and during COVID, and what might have caused the increase
  • Who participated: 117 children and teens diagnosed with POTS at one hospital between 2018 and 2023
  • Key finding: POTS diagnoses nearly doubled during COVID (from 6.1% to 10.5% of cases), with pandemic kids being less active and more anxious
  • What it means for you: If your child has been less active during COVID and complains of dizziness or racing heart when standing, talk to your doctor about POTS

The Research Details

Researchers looked back at medical records from one children’s hospital over 6 years. They compared kids diagnosed with POTS before COVID (46 children) to those diagnosed during COVID (71 children). They collected information about the children’s symptoms, blood tests, activity levels, and mental health. This type of study is called ‘retrospective’ because researchers looked at past medical records rather than following patients forward in time.

This approach allowed researchers to see clear patterns in how POTS diagnoses changed during a specific time period and identify what factors might be responsible for the increase.

The study comes from one hospital, so results might not apply everywhere. However, the clear timeline comparison and detailed patient information make the findings reliable for understanding POTS trends during COVID.

What the Results Show

The number of children diagnosed with POTS increased significantly during the pandemic period. Before COVID, about 6 out of every 100 heart-related cases were POTS, but during COVID, this jumped to about 11 out of every 100 cases. Children diagnosed during the pandemic were much less physically active, with 72% reporting decreased activity levels. They also spent much more time looking at screens, with 85% having increased screen time. Mental health was also affected, with 34% of pandemic-period children showing signs of anxiety compared to only 18% before COVID.

Interestingly, children diagnosed during COVID had higher vitamin B12 levels in their blood, suggesting nutrition wasn’t the problem. Their heart rate patterns and hemoglobin levels were similar to pre-pandemic children, indicating the heart muscle itself wasn’t damaged differently.

This is one of the first studies to specifically look at how COVID lifestyle changes affected POTS in children, so there isn’t much previous research to compare it to directly.

The study only looked at one hospital, so the results might not be the same everywhere. Also, because it looked backward at medical records, researchers couldn’t control for all factors that might have influenced the results.

The Bottom Line

Parents should encourage regular physical activity and limit screen time for their children. If a child experiences dizziness, racing heart, or fatigue when standing up, especially if they’ve been less active, consult a doctor. Mental health support may also be important for children with POTS.

Parents of children and teens, especially those who became less active during COVID or who experience dizziness and heart racing when standing up

POTS symptoms can improve with physical reconditioning over several months, but early recognition and treatment are important for better outcomes

Want to Apply This Research?

Use the Gram app to:

  • Track daily physical activity minutes and episodes of dizziness or rapid heartbeat when standing up
  • Set daily activity goals and gradually increase physical exercise while monitoring heart rate responses to standing
  • Log symptoms, activity levels, and screen time daily to identify patterns and track improvement over time

This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. If your child experiences symptoms of POTS such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, or fainting when standing, consult with a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and treatment.