Cardiovascular diseases remain a significant concern for Malaysia, with ischaemic heart disease ranking as the second leading cause of death, accounting for 13.7% in 2022, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Traditionally associated with individuals aged 40 and above, coronary artery disease is now affecting a growing number of people under the age of 40, with an annual increase of approximately 2%.
According to leading cardiologist, Dr. Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd Firdaus reported in FMT highlights several causes and risk factors contributing to heart disease among younger individuals. Smoking, physical inactivity, consumption of unhealthy food, childhood obesity, and the rise of diabetes in young people are primary culprits. Additionally, hypertension exposure to tobacco usage, genetic factors, and illicit substance abuse such as marijuana pose further risks.
Another news published recently highlighted an increasing number of the adult population aged 40 and below are experiencing sudden death mainly caused by cardiac arrest and stroke. The expert explained factors such as elevated stress levels, inadequate sleep, history of cardiac diseases and sudden change of lifestyle from inactive to active after the lifting of pandemic restrictions as the contributing causes.
However, the scientific explanation fails to resonate with netizens, who are instead attributing the increase in heart events to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Well, let’s dive into the scientific evidence of how true these claims are. While there have been reports of myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, following the administration of certain COVID-19 vaccines (The Moderna and Pfizer), the cases are extremely rare. Similarly, other vaccines have also been listed as a possible rare side effect, based on a few cases reported during clinical trials.
According to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), for every million doses of the monovalent Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine administered, there have been only 10 reports of myocarditis and 6 reports of pericarditis. Similarly, for every million doses of the monovalent Moderna vaccine, there have been 14 reports of myocarditis and 8 reports of pericarditis. While these numbers may sound concerning, it’s crucial to remember that these cases represent an extremely small percentage when compared to the overall number of vaccine recipients.
Interestingly, reports indicate that cases of myocarditis following COVID-19 vaccination are more common in young males aged 18 to 29 years, particularly after the second dose. It’s worth noting that most individuals who have experienced this rare side effect have had mild illness and recovered without requiring medical treatment.
Also, study published in The Lancet medical journal, researchers from Singapore have revealed that there is no greater risk of developing heart inflammation after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine compared to other commonly administered vaccines, such as the flu jab.
This comprehensive analysis, which examined the findings of 22 different studies encompassing a staggering 405 million vaccine doses worldwide, including those for flu, smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella, provides strong evidence for the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. The researchers found that overall rates of myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccination were not significantly different from those observed with other vaccines, including the flu shot.
In addition, there is no evidence that people are at an increased risk of cardiac arrest in the days or weeks following the COVID-19 vaccine based on large scientific studies carried out in the United Kingdom.
In another significant study published, researchers found that the risk of myocarditis is significantly higher following COVID-19 infection compared to the weeks following vaccination. This study, conducted on a large scale, reinforces the need to instead, further investigate the potential link between COVID-19 infection itself and heart complications.
Researchers around the world have conducted and are still conducting various studies to find the link between heart issues with COVID-19 vaccines and so far found no evidence, as highlighted in the cited studies and reports
But are there any conflicting studies? Yes, most notably the two autopsy reports from South Korea and Germany which were later proven to be misleading by the scientific community upon careful evaluation. The reports were taken out of context by the media and continued to be reposted on social media and on various websites as legitimate evidence to prove otherwise.
On the very contrary, research has found strong evidence that COVID-19 itself is much more likely to cause myocarditis than the vaccine is, and people who are vaccinated have a much lower risk of getting other serious complications caused by COVID-19. One study, carried out by researchers at the BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre in Glasgow provides more evidence. The research demonstrated that approximately one in eight individuals who were hospitalized with COVID-19 were later diagnosed with myocarditis. Furthermore, it highlighted that severe cases of COVID-19 can trigger inflammation throughout the body and cause damage to vital organs such as the kidneys. Taken together, the risk of heart issues due to the COVID-19 infection itself is way higher than the very low risk of rare side effects of vaccines.
Despite scientific evidence demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, conspiracy theorists persist in pointing fingers at the vaccine as the supposed cause of higher death rates due to heart attack. These individuals, driven by misinformation and unfounded beliefs, disregard the extensive research, rigorous testing, and regulatory approvals that vaccines undergo before being administered to the public.
Their claims often rely on cherry-picked data, anecdotal stories, and misleading interpretations of adverse events. They fail to acknowledge that correlation does not imply causation and ignore the overwhelming consensus among medical professionals and experts worldwide.
Based on extensive research, researchers worldwide generally agree that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, such as a reduced risk of severe illness or death, far outweigh the very small risk of myocarditis or pericarditis. It is important to note that similar risks are associated with other vaccines as well. However, it does not mean that we should stop investigating the potential link between the COVID-19 vaccine and heart issues. Continued monitoring is necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
Therefore, it is crucial to shift the focus from solely blaming the COVID-19 vaccine for heart issues and instead concentrating on addressing the primary causes of heart problems, such as promoting a healthy diet, maintaining an active lifestyle, exercise, adequate sleep, lowering stresses and regularly undergoing heart check-ups.
Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition
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