No link between COVID-19 vaccination and young adult deaths: AIIMS study
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New Delhi: A comprehensive, one-year autopsy-based observational study conducted at AIIMS, Delhi, has found no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination with sudden deaths among young adults, reaffirming the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
The study emphasised that sudden death in young adults remains a significant public health concern requiring targeted interventions. Coronary artery disease (CAD) was identified as the leading cause, while respiratory-related and unexplained deaths warrant further investigation.
Titled “Burden of Sudden Death in Young Adults: A One-Year Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in India”, the research has been published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR), the flagship journal of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The study involved a detailed evaluation of sudden death cases using verbal autopsy, post-mortem imaging, conventional autopsy, and histopathological examination, carried out by a multidisciplinary team of forensic experts, pathologists, radiologists, and clinicians.
Researchers examined sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 over one year. No statistically significant association was found between COVID-19 vaccination status and sudden deaths in the young population. Cardiovascular causes were the most common, followed by respiratory causes and other non-cardiac conditions. COVID-19 illness history and vaccination status were comparable between younger and older age groups, with no causal link identified.
Dr Sudheer Arava, Professor at AIIMS, New Delhi, said the study is particularly significant in light of misleading claims and unverified reports suggesting a link between COVID-19 vaccination and sudden deaths. “The findings do not support such claims. Scientific, evidence-based research must guide public understanding and discourse,” he asserted.
Health experts reiterated that sudden deaths in young individuals, while tragic, are often linked to undiagnosed medical conditions, especially cardiovascular diseases. They stressed the need for early screening, lifestyle modifications, and timely medical care. Dr Arava advised citizens to rely on credible scientific sources and avoid misinformation that could undermine confidence in public health interventions.
The cross-sectional study, conducted from May 2023 to April 2024 at the Departments of Pathology and Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, included cases meeting the definition of sudden death while excluding trauma, suicide, homicide, and drug abuse.
Verbal autopsy involved detailed interactions with relatives and friends regarding the circumstances of death, medical history, COVID-19 illness and vaccination, drug use, smoking, and alcohol habits. Autopsies were conducted within 48 hours of death, with each case undergoing whole-body imaging, conventional autopsy, and histopathological examination.
A comparative analysis was performed between young adults (18-45) and older adults (46-65). Of 2,214 autopsied cases during the study period, 180 met the criteria for sudden death. Among these, 57.2 per cent (103) were young adults and 42.8 per cent (77) were older adults, with young sudden deaths representing 4.7 per cent of all autopsied cases.
The study cohort included 94 cases of sudden death in young adults and 68 cases in older adults; 18 cases were excluded due to extensive autolytic changes. The mean age of young adults was 33.6 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 4.5:1.
The researchers highlighted that the higher incidence of CAD-related deaths among young adults is concerning and remains under-documented in India. Similar findings were reported in Kerala, attributed to lifestyle changes, stress, and dietary habits. CAD continues to be the leading cause of sudden death globally among older adults. Pneumonia and disseminated tuberculosis were the primary respiratory-related causes.
The study also emphasised that despite advancements in tuberculosis diagnostics and treatment, the disease continues to cause significant mortality in developing countries, reflecting persistent gaps between disease control efforts and outcomes on the ground.
With PTI inputs