Latest news with #JayadevaInstituteofCardiovascularScienceandResearch
India Today
3 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Karnataka panel finds no link between sudden cardiac deaths and Covid vaccine
A government-appointed expert committee in Karnataka has found no link between sudden cardiac deaths and prior Covid-19 infection or vaccination. The panel, chaired by Dr KS Ravindranath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, submitted its findings on July 2. The investigation followed a series of alarming deaths reported from Hassan report concluded that the deaths were likely due to a combination of behavioural, genetic, and environmental factors. Many cases involved traditional risks such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and high cholesterol. However, a significant number of patients had none of these, suggesting possible new or under-recognised panel emphasised that no single cause was responsible for the spike in sudden cardiac deaths. While there was a temporary rise in cardiac events immediately after Covid, attributed to inflammation, the long-term impact (beyond a year) appears negligible. Dr Ravindranath said Jayadeva Hospital's ongoing Premature Cardiac registry enabled a comparison between pre- and post-Covid data. 'We observed a 5–6% increase in diabetes, hypertension, and smoking post-Covid. This points to a shift in health trends,' he said.'We analysed patients and found their risk profiles have changed. We reviewed ICMR and other peer-reviewed studies, and the consensus is clear: there is no direct link between Covid vaccination and increased cardiac events,' he explained. 'However, individuals with severe Covid, especially ICU cases, showed a rise in heart attacks within six months to a year post-recovery. But long-term data, over three to four years, shows no sustained increase in cardiac events in the general population.'A short-term spike in cardiac events was observed after Covid due to inflammation, but the long-term impact (beyond one year) was found to be study also debunked claims linking 'long Covid' or vaccines to sudden deaths in young adults. Instead, it highlighted global evidence suggesting vaccines provide long-term protection against heart panel, in its report, also recommended a multi-pronged public health strategy, including setting up a statewide surveillance system for sudden cardiac deaths and autopsy-based registries. It also recommends large-scale, multi-centre studies to explore long-term cardiovascular impacts more Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao reinforced the findings, stating, 'There is no negative impact of the Covid vaccine. There is worldwide research, and our research also shows that there is no connection to Covid.' He added, 'Now, a 4–5 per cent increase is there. It's not because of Covid; there are various risk factors.'Referring to the origins of the committee, Gundu Rao said: 'The Chief Minister was very specific: Why are sudden deaths happening in younger people? Is there a connection between the Covid vaccine and this? A lot of people and doctors were talking about this. The Chief Minister was rightfully concerned about it and flagged it.'advertisementIn response to Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's comments, the minister said: 'There is no panic. Nobody is in panic. That's why the CM constituted a committee. It clarifies and clears the panic.'He also clarified that the Hassan deaths are being treated separately, with a specific report expected on July 10. Additionally, he flagged screen-related sedentary lifestyles as another possible contributor.'The main thing will be to screen our people,' Gundu Rao added. 'We are proposing that cardiac screening should be done for students. Also, across the state, for all government employees, we will be doing screening at least once a year. We are also recommending all companies to do screening for employees once a year.'- Ends
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
01-07-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
Siddaramaiah flags possible Covid vaccine link in heart attack deaths
The Karnataka government on Tuesday announced formation of a committee to study potential side effects of Covid-19 vaccines, including links to heart attacks, amid reports that at least 20 people have died due to cardiac arrest in the state's Hassan district alone over the last one month. 'Owing to this, a committee has been formed under the leadership of Dr Ravindranath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, and they have been instructed to submit a study report within 10 days,' Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a post on social media platform X. This comes after the Karnataka government had ordered the formation of an expert committee in February to investigate the rising number of sudden deaths among young people, amid growing concerns that these incidents may be linked to Covid vaccine. 'In this regard, the process of examining and analysing heart patients is also underway,' Siddaramaiah added. He alleged in his post that the rushed approval and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine may also be a contributing factor to these deaths, citing several international studies that have recently suggested a possible link between the vaccines and a rise in heart attacks. 'We, too, value the lives of children, youth, and innocent people who have their entire lives ahead of them, and we share the concerns of their families,' he added. The CM's charge comes even as several studies and experts have highlighted cases of vaccinated people facing adverse events. In May last year, a team of researchers from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) had claimed that nearly one third of the individuals who received Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech) were reported to have faced adverse events of special interest (AESI) such as viral upper respiratory tract infections, menstrual abnormalities and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had later criticised the study, calling it poorly designed, with a poor methodology and critical flaws in the design of the study. The AstraZeneca vaccine, which was manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, was sold in the country under the name Covishield. Siddaramaiah added that the government will investigate the true cause behind the recent spate of sudden deaths in Hassan district and across the state, and take necessary steps to prevent further incidents. 'With this goal, we have already implemented schemes like Hridaya Jyothi and Gruha Arogya to monitor public health. Based on the report from the expert committee under Dr Ravindranath's guidance, necessary actions will also be taken,' he said.
