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Journalism of Courage
COVID-19 vaccines are not associated with an increased risk of sudden deaths, says a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that assessed data from 39 network hospitals across the country. Vaccination, in fact, brought down the risk of sudden deaths — fatalities in people who seem apparently healthy or are discharged from a hospital less than 24 hours ago.
Sudden deaths mostly happen because of heart conditions such as irregular heartbeat, obstructed blood flow to heart muscles and a condition where the heart muscle loses its ability to effectively pump blood among others.
The study was commissioned by the country’s apex health research organisation earlier this year after reports linking deaths to vaccination. It is based on 729 deaths recorded in apparently healthy 18 to 45-year-olds between October 2021 and March 2023. The data was compared to that of 2,916 healthy individuals of the same age, gender and living in similar conditions. Last month, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya had referred to this study while cautioning people who had recovered from a severe bout of COVID-19 against exerting themselves during Garba dances.
“There was a lot of apprehension among people about vaccines leading to an increase in sudden deaths. Several reports were coming out. Therefore, it was important to undertake this study and empirically show that sudden death is not linked to vaccination,” says Dr Manoj Murhekar, corresponding author of the study.
While the study has exonerated vaccines, it says severe COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation increased the risk of sudden deaths. In fact, those who had sudden deaths were four times more likely to have had severe COVID-19. Vaccination could have been a protective shield. “The reduced risk following COVID-19 vaccination could possibly be due to the protection offered by vaccination against severity,” says the study.
The study has identified a family history of sudden death, smoking status, binge drinking and vigorous intensity exercises as other risk factors for sudden death. A patient with a family history of sudden death was almost three times more likely to be associated with unexplained sudden death as per the study. Current smoking habits were nearly two times likely to be associated with sudden deaths and binge-drinking 48 hours before the cardiac event was six times more likely to push up risks, reveals the study. Vigorous physical activity 48 hours prior to an episode was also nearly three times more likely to be linked to sudden death.
“This is consistent with what we already know. It is well documented that a family history of sudden death, binge drinking, use of recreational drugs and doing physical activity one is unaccustomed to are associated with sudden deaths,” says Dr Murhekar.
The study says that “the pathways through which COVID-19 may cause sudden deaths are currently not well-understood” but adds how studies elsewhere have shown that the infection might lead to an increase in heart disease and stroke through various mechanisms, including the virus attacking the heart muscle cells and lining of blood vessels.
As Dr Rakesh Yadav, professor of cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, says, “Although rare, there have been reports of COVID-19 infection damaging the heart muscles and leading to cardiomyopathy (a condition where the heart muscles cannot pump blood effectively). Heart attacks have been common because of the infection increasing the tendency of clotting. It is also known to lead to electrical abnormalities such as tachycardia (fast beating of the heart) or autonomous dysfunctions such as sudden increase or decrease in blood pressure and pulse rate.” That’s why patients must follow up with their doctors.
This is one of three studies. Another study across 31 hospitals in August found that 6.5 per cent people hospitalised with COVID-19 had died the following year. It said 17.5 per cent of these recovered patients faced lethargy and breathlessness. The result of the third study to investigate the clotting events following COVID-19 vaccination in 18 to 45-year-olds is also awaited.
