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People who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are at increased risk of developing more severe cardiovascular disease associated with COVID-19, according to a national study from the University of Gothenburg. is significantly lower. At the same time, some cardiovascular effects are seen after individual administration of the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines aim to reduce complications and overall mortality from the disease. A rare acute side effect is myocardial or pericardial inflammation in young men after mRNA vaccination. Regarding other cardiovascular effects, limited research has been conducted and results are contradictory.
This register-based national study, published in the European Heart Journal, is based on data from the entire population of more than 8 million Swedish adults who were followed in national health care registries for approximately two years from the end of December 2020. . , from the time the new coronavirus vaccination begins until the end of 2022.
Researchers studied the dose-specific “risk window” (the time immediately after a single injection of a coronavirus vaccine) in vaccinated people. Cardiovascular health after full vaccination was compared to cardiovascular health in people who had not started vaccination at the same stage of the study.
Cardiovascular disease risk analysis
The study includes risk analysis for a number of cardiovascular diseases related to both the heart and brain: myocardial or pericardial inflammation, arrhythmias, heart failure, TIA, and stroke. The latter two are caused by impaired blood flow to the heart. brain.
For most outcomes, especially more severe outcomes, the risk of cardiovascular events was reduced after vaccination, especially after the third dose. The risk of cardiovascular events after being fully vaccinated was generally 20% to 30% lower than when vaccination was not initiated.
At the same time, the study also confirmed an increased risk of myocardial or pericardial inflammation one to two weeks after a single injection of mRNA against the new coronavirus.
The study also observed a transient increase in the risk of premature contractions (increased heart rate) after the first dose (17% higher risk) and after the second dose (22% higher risk). This tendency was stronger for older people and men. There was no increased risk of other serious arrhythmias after vaccination.
Stroke risk was lower after vaccination than without vaccination, but TIA risk was temporarily higher after single-dose vaccination, primarily in older men (13% higher risk).
Preventive effect of vaccines
The study was carried out at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and was led by Fredrik Nyberg, visiting professor of registered epidemiology, and Yiyi Hsu, associate professor of industrial and environmental medicine. I took responsibility. the study.
Other authors include cardiologist and sports physiology professor Mats Bergesson, infectious disease specialist, infectious disease professor and state epidemiologist Magnus Ghislen.
“The increased cardiovascular risk seen after COVID-19 vaccination is temporary and does not apply to more severe symptoms,” Professor Nyberg said.
“On the other hand, full vaccination significantly reduced the risk of some of the more serious cardiovascular diseases associated with COVID-19, including heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. It emphasizes the preventive effects of vaccination.
Further information: Yiyi Xu et al., Cardiovascular events after coronavirus infection 2019 vaccination in adults: a Swedish nationwide study, European Heart Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae639
Provided by University of Gothenburg
Citation: Study shows reduced risk of severe cardiovascular disease after COVID-19 vaccination (October 1, 2024) https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-10-cardiovascular-disease-covid- Retrieved October 1, 2024 from vaccination.html
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