Long-Haul Post-COVID-19 Symptoms Presenting as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Other Cardiovascular Dysautonomias

In the acute phase coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) causes multiple complications including pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, liver injury, cardiac injury, and prothrombotic coagulopathy. Long-term consequences of COVID-19 remain unknown. According to preliminary reports, chronic (“long-haul”) symptoms following COVID-19 infections indicate cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, more specifically a presentation similar to that of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). POTS is the most prevalent chronic cardiovascular dysautonomia among young and middle-aged individuals, with a significant female predominance. It is characterized by chronic orthostatic intolerance, abnormal heart rate increase on standing, deconditioning and less specific symptoms including headache, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, and dysmotility.