Joint Hypermobility: An Under-Recognised Cause of Palpitations, Dizziness, and Syncope in Young Females

Background: Symptoms of dizziness, syncope, and palpitations are common presentations in outpatient and emergency care, frequently attributed to stress and anxiety when conventional neurological and cardiac evaluations are normal. Joint hypermobility (JH) syndromes including hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS), and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are under-recognised as potential causes.

Methods: Our retrospective cohort study examined the clinical features, diagnostic findings, and responses to treatment in patients with JH syndromes, who are referred to a specialised syncope clinic within a UK teaching hospital. It involved 218 patients with joint hypermobility, predominantly young females (median Beighton score: 6), reporting chronic orthostatic intolerance, dizziness, and palpitations. Common comorbidities included joint pain, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal dysmotility, and psychiatric conditions. Prevalence of symptoms, cardiovascular abnormalities on investigation (ECG, echocardiography, and tilt-table testing), and treatment responses were analysed.

Results: History and examination were often diagnostic. Standard cardiac tests rarely provided diagnostic value except to exclude alternate conditions. Tilt-table testing was abnormal in 82.0% of cases, revealing orthostatic hypotension, reflex syncope, or postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Conservative measures (hydration, salt intake, and exercise) were effective in over half of the cases; pharmacological treatments (ivabradine, fludrocortisone) were considered for refractory cases.

Conclusions: This study emphasises that JH syndromes are a common cause of palpitations, dizziness, and syncope in young females. They are multi-system conditions affecting both physical and mental health, which remain under-recognised and are often dismissed as ‘functional’, particularly in women—highlighting gender bias in diagnosis. A structured diagnostic approach with routine joint assessments for JH and increased awareness can facilitate early recognition and management in general medical settings, reducing reliance on emergency services and improving patient outcomes.