A new nationwide study from the University of Gothenburg reveals that being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 significantly reduces the risk of serious heart and cardiovascular problems associated with the virus.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, followed more than eight million adults in Sweden over two years, from December 2020 to the end of 2022, and compared the heart health of vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
The COVID-19 vaccine is designed to lower the chances of severe illness and death from the virus.
However, some concerns have arisen about potential side effects, particularly inflammation of the heart muscle or the pericardium (the membrane around the heart) in young men after receiving mRNA vaccines.
The study also looked at other possible cardiovascular side effects after each vaccine dose.
Researchers used national health records to analyze cardiovascular risks such as heart muscle inflammation, abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure, mini-strokes (TIA), and strokes.
They found that most serious heart problems were less likely to occur after full vaccination.
In fact, the risk of having a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, was 20-30% lower for fully vaccinated individuals compared to those who were not vaccinated, particularly after the third dose.
However, the study did confirm a small, temporary increase in the risk of heart inflammation after one or two doses of the mRNA vaccine, typically occurring 1-2 weeks after the injection.
The research also noted a slightly higher risk of extrasystoles—extra heartbeats—after the first and second doses, especially in older adults and men. The increased risk of these heart issues was short-lived and did not lead to more serious conditions.
For older men, the study found a slightly increased risk (13%) of having a TIA after the first vaccine dose.
On the other hand, the risk of stroke decreased after vaccination, suggesting that the protective benefits of the vaccine outweigh the temporary risks.
Professor Fredrik Nyberg, one of the study’s lead authors, highlighted that while some cardiovascular risks increase briefly after vaccination, the benefits of full vaccination, such as preventing heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure, are much greater.
The findings emphasize the importance of getting fully vaccinated to protect against severe heart and cardiovascular problems related to COVID-19.
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