PULSE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PostUraL tachycardia Syndrome Exercise (PULSE): a randomised feasibility study
IRAS ID
266145
Contact name
Gordon McGregor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN45323485
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) can seriously effect well-being and quality of life, due to its many disabling symptoms. The condition mostly (but not only) affects women aged 13 to 50. People with POTS have an abnormal heart rate rise when they stand up, with symptoms including palpitations, dizziness, fainting, and long-lasting fatigue. Attending education, earning a living, and caring for dependants can be severely affected, and the impact on the healthcare system is significant.
Medical treatment is not always effective for POTS, but lifestyle interventions like exercise may help some people. We aim to find out if people with POTS will enrol on, and complete, a supervised exercise programme. First, we will run discussion groups with people affected by POTS, to help us better understand their needs, and refine an exercise intervention. At two hospitals, we will then invite people with POTS onto a study comparing a supervised exercise and motivational support intervention, with usual care (no supervised exercise). We will test whether people want to be involved, can tolerate the exercise, and if symptoms and quality of life improve over time.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EM/0077
Date of REC Opinion
1 Apr 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion