Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors' conclusion
Our results support the emerging paradigm of noninvasive neuromodulation to treat POTS.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)100% female
- Participants
- 12 vs 14
- Comparison
- Active transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) vs sham stimulation
- Activen = 12
- Shamn = 14reference
- Primary endpoint
- Postural tachycardia (mean postural increase in heart rate)
- Follow-up
- 2 months
Methodological detailssham-controlled, double-blind
- Sham-controlled
- Double-blind
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Mean postural increase in heart rate
Active
17.6
mean · SD 9.9 · beats/min
Sham
31.7
mean · SD 14.4 · beats/min
P = 0.01
Further findings
Adherence to daily stimulation
P > 0.05
Antiadrenergic autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines · 2 months
- Lower with active vs sham
- P < 0.05
Heart rate variability
- Better with active
Safety
Device-related side effects
- No device-related side effects observed
Original publication
Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Postural Tachycardia Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. Published 22 November 2023. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it