The Covid 19 pandemic was a mayhem that gripped the world from 2020 to 2022, resulting in millions of deaths. India specifically saw a deadly second wave from March 2021 to June 2021, resulting in many deaths, lack of oxygen tanks and beds. However, a glimmer of hope appeared with the Covid vaccine, which, even though did not give complete immunity against the virus, made the ailment much less severe.
Of late, there have been talks about the vaccine’s long term effects on health, in particular cardiac health, as more and more young Indians are dying of “sudden” heart attacks. However, recently, doctors and researchers at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have addressed these concerns. Their studies show there is no clear link between Covid vaccines and sudden cardiac arrest deaths in India.What started the worryAfter the Covid-19 vaccination, and even till now, some cases of young people dying suddenly from heart attacks or cardiac arrest were reported. These incidents led to fear and speculation that the vaccine might be causing these deaths. Social media posts and public figures added to the confusion, making many people anxious about vaccine safety, which was being seen as a precursor to cardiac events.What Did AIIMS Delhi StudyAIIMS Delhi, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), launched a detailed study to find out if there was any connection between Covid vaccines and sudden cardiac deaths. The study focused on adults aged 18 to 45, a group where some of these sudden deaths were reported.How was the study carried outResearchers examined over 300 cases of sudden, unexplained deaths.Post-mortems were conducted to find the real cause of death.The study included people who had received one or more doses of the Covid vaccine.What Did the Results ShowThe main finding was on these lines: there is no evidence that Covid vaccines increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack deaths.Most of the sudden deaths were linked to coronary artery disease (CHD), which is often caused by poor lifestyle choices such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and stress.Some deaths were due to genetic factors or pre-existing health conditions.The pattern of sudden deaths after vaccination was similar to what was seen before the pandemic.
What Do the Experts SayDoctors at AIIMS Delhi have strongly stated that the benefits of Covid vaccines far outweigh any risks. Dr. Sanjay Rai, Professor of Community Medicine at AIIMS, explained that while every vaccine or medicine carries some risk, the overall benefit of vaccination in saving lives during the pandemic was huge.Dr. Karan Madan, Associate Professor at AIIMS, said, “Covid vaccines were effective and played a crucial role in reducing mortality. A study was done on sudden cardiac deaths to review the vaccines used so far, but no clear association was found with sudden cardiac deaths”.Dr. Randeep Guleria, former Director of AIIMS, also pointed out that heart attacks in young people is more likely due to lifestyle, genetics, and other health issues, not the vaccine.What About Other StudiesThe findings from AIIMS Delhi are supported by other major studies in India:The ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology conducted a large study across 47 hospitals in 19 states. It found no link between Covid vaccination and sudden unexplained deaths among adults.The Union Health Ministry and the Serum Institute of India (maker of Covishield) have also confirmed that the vaccines are safe and scientifically validated.Why do sudden cardiac arrests happenSudden cardiac arrest can occur for many reasons, includingCoronary artery disease (blocked arteries)Genetic factors (family history of heart disease)Unhealthy lifestyle (poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol which over years weaknes the heart)Pre-existing health conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure)Stress and obesityWhat should one do:Regardless of this breather, one should take care of your heart health. For thisExercise oftenConsume heart healthy foodsKeep your BP under checkQuit smoking/reduce alcoholDitch the junkLose weight, if you are overweightGet yourself tested every yearSourcesAIIMSThe Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Union Health Ministry
