Cardiovascular Symptoms, Dysautonomia, and Quality of Life in Adult and Pediatric Patients with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A Brief Review.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2024
Identifier
DOI: 10.2174/011573403X271096231203164216
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by joint hypermobility and other systemic manifestations, such as cardiovascular symptoms, musculoskeletal pain, and joint instability. Cardiovascular symptoms, such as lightheadedness and palpitations, and types of dysautonomia, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), are frequently reported in adults with hEDS and have been shown to negatively impact quality of life (QoL).
OBJECTIVE: This brief review will be an overview of co-occurring symptoms in POTS and hEDS to inform potential cardiovascular screening procedures.
RESULTS: While many patients with hEDS report cardiovascular symptoms, few have structural abnormalities, suggesting that dysautonomia is likely responsible for these symptoms. One validated screening measure for dysautonomia symptom burden is the Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale (COMPASS-31). Studies have found that adults with POTS, hEDS, and both POTS and hEDS have higher COMPASS-31 scores than the general population, suggesting a high symptom burden due to dysautonomia, which leads to impaired QoL.
CONCLUSION: While studies have examined cardiovascular symptoms and the impact of dysautonomia in adults with and without hEDS, there is scant literature on dysautonomia in pediatric patients with hEDS. Therefore, more studies on cardiovascular symptoms and dysautonomia, as they relate to the quality of life in pediatric patients with hEDS, are needed. This brief review summarizes the current literature on dysautonomia and cardiovascular symptoms in pediatric and adult populations with hEDS.
Journal Title
Curr Cardiol Rev
Volume
20
Issue
1
Keywords
Cardiology; Cardiovascular Symptoms; Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale; Dysautonomia; Echocardiogram; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome; Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome; Pediatrics; Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome; Quality of Life
Recommended Citation
Hertel A, Black WR, Malloy Walton L, Martin JR, Jones JT. Cardiovascular symptoms, dysautonomia, and quality of life in adult and pediatric patients with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A brief review. Current Cardiology Reviews. 2024;20(1). doi:10.2174/011573403x271096231203164216
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