Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Autonomic |
| Also described as | Tilt table / stand test |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | POTS-like phenotype |
| Test type | Clinical or physiological test |
| Source | Gean et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119456 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Orthostatic heart rate increment is reported
- Orthostatic heart rate increment in ME/CFS — ↑ elevated vs HC
- Orthostatic heart rate increment in PACVS — ↑ elevated vs HC
See the cross-condition hub: Orthostatic heart rate increment across conditions.
Trials, interventions and tests
In clinical-trial registrations this marker maps to the outcome term Active Stand Test (25 registered trials use a matching outcome measure).
Clinical trials using Orthostatic heart rate increment as an outcome
- NCT06231238: Balance Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Long COVID (Active Not Recruiting)
Outcome measure: 1 minute sit-to-stand test - NCT07621588: Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercises With KOTS Currents in Patients With Long COVID (Not Yet Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Physical Function - NCT06305793: RECOVER-AUTONOMIC: Platform Protocol, Appendix A (IVIG) (Active Not Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Change in Active Stand Test - NCT06871293: Evaluating the Impact of a Functional and Cognitive Strategy in Patients With Long Covid-19 (Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Change in Functional Capacity - NCT06766825: Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Plitidepsin in Adults With Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC) (Recruiting)
Outcome measure: To compare changes in terms of fatigue (Five times sit to stant test) in patients with PCC among the three treatment arms. - NCT06161688: Ensitrelvir for Viral Persistence and Inflammation in People Experiencing Long COVID (Active Not Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Active Stand Test - NCT05965726: RECOVER-VITAL: Platform Protocol, Appendix to Measure the Effects of Paxlovid on Long COVID Symptoms (Completed)
Outcome measure: Percentage of Participants Who Improved in Autonomic Dysfunction Symptom Cluster, as Measured by the Active Stand Test - NCT06305806: RECOVER-AUTONOMIC: Platform Protocol, Appendix B (Ivabradine) (Completed)
Outcome measure: Change in heart rate (HR)
17 more trials reference this marker.
Interventions studied alongside this marker
Hypothesis-generating links from trial outcome usage and literature co-occurrence. Not treatment recommendations.
- Exercise therapy — 4 trials, 2 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Acute myocardial infarction in a patient with HAM/TSP evaluated for circulatory dynamics during mobilization… - Cognitive rehabilitation — 2 trials, 1 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Unusual cause of acquired brain injury. - Ivabradine — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Maximizing treatment response in patients with neuropathic-subtype postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. - Physiotherapy — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Management, and Surveillance of LMNB1-Related Autosomal… - Rehabilitation — 1 trial, 6 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Acute myocardial infarction in a patient with HAM/TSP evaluated for circulatory dynamics during mobilization…
Related Autonomic markers in Gulf War Illness
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Orthostatic heart rate increment high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher Orthostatic heart rate increment in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Gean et al. 2021.
What symptoms is Orthostatic heart rate increment associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with POTS-like phenotype. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures Orthostatic heart rate increment?
It is measured as a clinical or physiological test. Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal Orthostatic heart rate increment result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. Orthostatic heart rate increment findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is Orthostatic heart rate increment specific to Gulf War Illness?
No. The same marker is also reported in ME/CFS, PACVS in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.