Sleep Characteristics in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

Study Objectives: Patients with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) complain of difficulties with sleep dysfunction. This study characterizes sleep architecture and Alpha-Delta sleep (ADS) in patients with POTS. Methods: Patients diagnosed with POTS with reported daytime sleepiness were evaluated by polysomnography (women=100%; mean age= 34.3; range 25-55). Measurements included number of nocturnal awakenings as well as the average hours of sleep, sleep architecture, alpha wave intrusion in NREM (N3) sleep efficiency and apnea-hyponea index and sleep stages. Results: Sleep efficiency was reduced (62.02%, range=47.6-78.1) with prolonged REM latencies (229.8 minutes, range 127.5-404.5) and increased N2 sleep (69.22%, range 61.1-79.9%). Decreased REM sleep (8.72%, range 1.5-17.3) and decreased REM cycles (1.2, range 1-2) were observed (0.46, range 0-1.6). Conclusions: In this study POTS patients were noted to have abnormal sleep architecture and alpha delta sleep.