A study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has observed that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults, the Central government told the Parliament on Friday.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha said that post-hospitalisation due to COVID-19, the family history of sudden death, and certain lifestyle behaviours increased the likelihood of unexplained sudden deaths.
Mandaviya was responding to a question on whether there has been any reported instance of a linkage between COVID-19 vaccination and incidents of heart attacks in the country.
Sudden deaths have been reported in some people after they contracted COVID-19, but sufficient evidence is not available to confirm the cause of such deaths, the Minister added.
The ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) conducted a study titled “Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India – A multicentric matched case-control study” at 47 tertiary-care hospitals located across 19 states and Union territories from May to August.
A total of 729 cases and 2,916 controls were included in the analysis.
“It was observed that the receipt of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine lowered the odds for unexplained sudden death, whereas past COVID-19 hospitalisation, family history of sudden death, binge drinking 48 hours before death/interview, use of recreational drug/substance and performing vigorous-intensity physical activity 48 hours before death/interview were positively associated,” Mandaviya said. Two doses of a vaccine lowered the odds of unexplained sudden death, whereas a single dose did not, he added.
“Hence, the study observed that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India. Past COVID-19 hospitalisation, family history of sudden death and certain lifestyle behaviours increased the likelihood of unexplained sudden death,” the Minister said.
