Any link between Covid-19 vaccination and sudden cardiac deaths? What the ICMR studies reveal

Studies conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the sudden unexplained cardiac deaths among adults post coronavirus outbreak have revealed that there is no direct link between the Covid-19 vaccination and such fatalities.

The studies asserted that Covid-19 vaccines in India are safe and effective, with extremely rare instances of serious side effects, the Union health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

It said the sudden cardiac deaths can result from a wide range of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, pre-existing conditions, and post-Covid complications.

The ICMR and the NCDC conducted two separate studies using different research approaches—one based on past data and another involving real-time investigation—to examine the causes behind the sudden spike in cardiac deaths among young adults post pandemic.

The first study by the ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) was carried out from May to August 2023 across 47 tertiary care hospitals in 19 states and Union territories.  It looked at individuals who appeared to be healthy but died suddenly between October 2021 and March 2023. 

The second study is currently being conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi in collaboration with the ICMR. This prospective study is aimed at determining the common causes of sudden deaths in young adults.

While the first study conclusively showed that Covid-19 vaccination does not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death in young adults, the second study has identified genetic mutations as a possible cause of deaths in majority of the cases, according to the health ministry statement.

“It has also been revealed that Covid-19 vaccination does not appear to increase the risk, whereas, the role of underlying health issues, genetic predisposition and risky lifestyle choices does play a role in unexplained sudden deaths,” it said.

The ministry urged to be cautious against false and misleading reports linking vaccination and sudden cardiac deaths, saying such speculative claims without conclusive evidence risk undermining public confidence in vaccines.

“Such unfounded reports and claims could strongly contribute to vaccine hesitancy in the country, thereby adversely impacting public health,” it said.

 

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