Centre Responds To MP On Youth Heart Attacks, Cites Likely Reasons (image:pixabay)

New Delhi: Citing a study published by Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), Central government stated that the COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India.

As the Monsoon Session of the Parliament entered the second day, Minister of State for Health And Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav gave written response to the question raised by Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi concerning increasing incidence of heart attacks among the young population.

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Minister said that ICMR-NIE conducted a study titled “Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India – A multicentric matched case–control study” focusing on 47 hospitals in 19 different States and Union Territories. It took place from May to August in 2023 and “cases” were healthy people in the age group 18-45 years, who had no previous health problems, and who suddenly died from unexplained causes. Their deaths occurred between October 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023 and this happened either less than 24 hours after being hospitalised or after being seen as healthy 24 hours before death.

For each person’s case, ICMR-NIE collected information about COVID-19 vaccination/ infection, , post-COVID-19 conditions, family history of sudden death, smoking, recreational drug use, alcohol frequency, binge drinking and intense exercise two days before their death, Minister said.

“The study observed that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India. Past COVID-19 hospitalization, family history of sudden death and certain lifestyle behaviors increased the likelihood of unexplained sudden death,” Minister informed the Parliament.

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Furthermore, in response to Pratapgarhi’s question regarding preventive measures, Jadhav detailed that the Department of Health & Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States and Union Territories under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), and cardiovascular diseases are an integral part of it. Under this initiative, prevention, control, and screening for common NCDs, as well as increasing awareness generation activities, are also being carried out.