New Delhi (Agency): A comprehensive observational study conducted at G B Pant Hospital in Delhi has found no evidence of a connection between India’s Covid-19 vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin – and a heightened risk of heart attacks. The study’s results, recently published in the esteemed journal PLOS One, focused on evaluating the effects of Covid-19 vaccination on mortality rates following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), commonly referred to as heart attacks. The findings underscored the safety of the vaccines and highlighted their potential protective impact.
The retrospective study drew its data from 1,578 individuals admitted to G B Pant Hospital between August 2021 and August 2022. Among the participants, 68.8% (1,086 individuals) had received Covid-19 vaccinations, while the remaining 31.2% (492 individuals) were unvaccinated.
Within the vaccinated group, 96% (1,047 individuals) had completed both doses of the vaccine, with the remaining 4% (39 individuals) having received a single dose. Mohit Gupta, the lead researcher at G B Pant Hospital, stated, “Our study found that vaccines used in India are safe. There was no association between vaccination in India and heart attacks. In fact, the study revealed that vaccinated individuals had a lower likelihood of death following a heart attack.”
Despite concerns regarding potential cardiovascular side effects of Covid-19 vaccines, the study found that any adverse effects were generally mild, temporary, and self-limiting. The researchers aimed to assess any potential link between Covid-19 vaccinations and heart attacks, particularly in densely populated countries like India.
The study gathered data on patients’ vaccination statuses, including vaccine type, vaccination dates, and any adverse effects experienced. The analysis did not reveal any specific patterns of heart attacks occurring at specific times post-vaccination, suggesting no significant correlation between Covid-19 vaccines and heart attacks.
Upon 30-day follow-up, 12.7% (201 patients) experienced all-cause mortality, with adjusted odds of mortality being notably lower in the vaccinated group. Similarly, at the six-month follow-up, the vaccinated group displayed lower odds of mortality compared to the non-vaccinated group. These findings indicated that Covid-19 vaccines contributed to a reduction in all-cause mortality within 30 days and six months following a heart attack.
The researchers highlighted certain limitations of the study, including its retrospective design and its single-center nature. They emphasized the importance of further validation through larger studies encompassing diverse ethnic groups. This study provides significant insights into the safety and potential protective effects of Covid-19 vaccines, offering valuable information for public health considerations.