Individuals who have received complete COVID-19 vaccination show a markedly decreased risk of experiencing severe cardiovascular issues related to COVID-19 infection, as revealed by a new study from Sweden. However, some cardiovascular side effects have been observed after receiving individual vaccine doses.
Individuals who have undergone complete vaccination against COVID-19 exhibit a notably lower likelihood of developing serious cardiovascular problems associated with COVID-19 infection, according to a nationwide research conducted at the University of Gothenburg. It’s important to note that some cardiovascular effects may arise after receiving each dose of the vaccine.
The primary goal of the COVID-19 vaccine is to minimize complications and reduce the overall mortality rate from the virus. Nonetheless, certain cardiovascular effects have been noted following individual vaccine doses. A rare but acute side effect includes inflammation of the heart muscle or pericardium, particularly in younger males post mRNA vaccination. Research on other cardiovascular effects has been limited, with varying findings.
The present study, featured in the European Heart Journal, is a nationwide, register-based investigation. It utilizes data from over eight million adults across Sweden, monitored through national healthcare records for approximately two years, starting from late December 2020, when COVID-19 vaccination commenced, until the end of 2022.
The researchers focused on analyzing ‘risk windows’ (the period immediately following a single vaccination dose), assessing each vaccine dose in vaccinated individuals and then contrasting their cardiovascular health with that of unvaccinated individuals at the same point in the study.
Cardiovascular Disease Risk Analysis
The study entails risk evaluations for various cardiovascular diseases affecting both the heart and brain, including cardiac muscle or pericardium inflammation, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and stroke — the latter two resulting from decreased blood flow to the brain.
For most outcomes, especially the more critical ones, there was a lower risk of cardiovascular events post-vaccination, notably after the third dose. The likelihood of experiencing cardiovascular incidents after full vaccination was generally 20-30% less than that seen in unvaccinated individuals. However, the study also confirmed an elevated risk of inflammation of the heart muscle or pericardium occurring one to two weeks after a single mRNA dose against COVID-19.
Additionally, the study found a temporarily heightened risk of extrasystoles — extra heartbeats — after receiving the first (17% higher risk) and second (22% higher risk) doses, with a more pronounced effect in elderly individuals and males. There was, however, no increase in the likelihood of other severe cardiac arrhythmias post-vaccination.
Moreover, the risk of stroke was reduced following vaccination compared to those unvaccinated, while the risk for TIA was momentarily higher (13% increased risk) after receiving a single vaccine dose, particularly among older men.
Vaccine’s Protective Advantages
The research was conducted at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine within the University of Gothenburg’s Sahlgrenska Academy, led primarily by Fredrik Nyberg, a Visiting Professor specializing in Register Epidemiology, and Yiyi Xu, an Associate Professor focusing on Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Other contributors include Mats Börjesson, a cardiologist and Professor of Sports Physiology, along with Magnus Gisslén, an expert in infections and Professor of Infectious Diseases, who also serves as State Epidemiologist.
“The cardiovascular risk increases observed following COVID-19 vaccination are temporary and do not pertain to more severe conditions,” stated Professor Nyberg. “Conversely, full vaccination markedly lowers the risk of multiple serious cardiovascular issues linked to COVID-19, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. This highlights the significant protective benefits offered by complete vaccination.”
