A government-backed study in Karnataka has concluded that Covid vaccine are not linked to the recent rise in sudden cardiovascular events among young people. Commissioned by the Siddaramaiah government and led by Dr KS Ravindranath, Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, the report states:
“There is no single cause behind the observed rise in sudden cardiac deaths; it appears to be a multi-factorial issue with behavioural, genetic, and environmental risks.”
Response to Public Concern and Media Reports
TOI reported that the government initiated the study amid growing public anxiety over anecdotal reports of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths, especially among individuals under 45 in the post-pandemic era. A multi-disciplinary panel comprising cardiologists, epidemiologists, public health experts, and virologists reviewed national and international evidence and conducted a pilot study involving 251 patients admitted to Jayadeva Hospital with coronary artery disease between April 1 and May 31, 2025.
Vaccination Offers Protection, Not Risk
The research clearly found no evidence linking Covid-19 vaccination to premature cardiovascular disease. In fact, the expert panel reviewed studies from India and abroad and found that Covid vaccines—particularly inactivated and mRNA types—reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Furthermore, the panel noted that vaccine-related cardiac complications reported worldwide were rare, typically mild, and far less severe than those triggered by actual Covid-19 infection.
Majority of Patients Were Vaccinated
Among the 251 patients studied:
- 249 had been vaccinated,
- 72% received two doses,
- 57% had taken Covishield, the most commonly used vaccine in India.
Interestingly, only 7.6% (19 patients) reported a history of Covid-19 infection. Experts believe this low figure may reflect recall bias or suggest a high prevalence of asymptomatic cases in the community.
Lifestyle Changes Likely to Blame
A comparison with pre-pandemic 2019 data revealed a modest increase in traditional cardiac risk factors. These included diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol disorders. This suggests that lifestyle shifts during the pandemic, rather than the virus or the vaccine, may be driving the increased cardiovascular risk.
Multiple Risk Factors Behind Sudden Cardiac Events
While the study acknowledges that Covid-19 infection can temporarily raise cardiac risk due to inflammation and clotting, it found no scientific support for long-term cardiovascular risks from vaccination. Instead, the spike in heart-related incidents appears to stem from:
- Rising metabolic disorders,
- Sedentary lifestyles,
- Unhealthy dietary habits, and
- Increasing substance abuse among the youth.
Final Word: Vaccines Are Safe
In conclusion, the expert panel reaffirmed the safety of Covid-19 vaccines. They attributed sudden cardiac deaths in younger populations to complex, interrelated factors rather than vaccination. The findings seek to dispel misinformation and shift attention toward preventable lifestyle risks.