AIIMS-Delhi refutes claim linking Covid vaccine with heart disease

New Delhi: Doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday said their study of 300 individuals who died in the Covid pandemic period, has not revealed any impact by the Covid-19 vaccines as the pattern of death remains same in the pre- and post-Covid era.

The AIIMS doctors and their colleagues at other hospitals have ruled out any link between Covid-19 vaccines and heart attacks, as flagged by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, triggering a major debate.

Since 2003, the medical researchers have examined 300 cases of deaths among young adults, who were brought to AIIMS for post-mortem. For the study, the researchers picked up healthy young adults who died all of a sudden.

“Almost all of them were vaccinated against Covid-19. But the pattern of death remains the same in the pre-and post Covid period. Vaccination has no role in death. There was no sign of any inflammation of heart muscle triggered by the vaccine,” A Sudheer, an AIIMS doctor who was a part of the study, told DH.

The AIIMS team carried out an interim study analysing 100 samples and found that in nearly 50% of cases coronary artery diseases are caused either by family history or lifestyle factors.

Another 20-30% death is due to infections in the lungs and less than 5% is caused by congenital heart diseases. For the rest, the cause of death remains unknown.

R Narang, head of cardiology at AIIMS said no clear association has been seen with Covid-19 vaccination and sudden cardiac deaths. The doctors made it clear that benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the tiny amount of risks associated with the vaccine.

Narang said factors like past hospitalisation; family history; binge drinking 48 hours before death; use of recreational drugs and substance abuse; use of performance enhancing agents and supplements; and vigorous physical activity could be other factors behind such deaths.

"There is no link between Covid-19 vaccination and sudden cardiac death in young people. My advice to youth is to know your numbers - weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Take steps to correct them and avoid harmful habits. Many such deaths may have occurred earlier too but went unnoticed,” said Balram Bhargava, former director general of Indian Council of Medical Research.