Amid rising public concern and political commentary around sudden cardiac deaths in young adults, doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi, have firmly rejected claims that COVID-19 vaccines are responsible for these incidents. The statement comes in response to recent remarks by Karnataka Chief Minister Mr. Siddaramaiah, who controversially linked heart attack deaths in youth to COVID-19 vaccination.

Leading the scientific rebuttal, Dr. Sudheer Aarav from the Department of Pathology at AIIMS shared early findings from a detailed, ongoing study on sudden cardiac deaths among individuals aged 18 to 45.

“We have analyzed about 300 cases so far, and our one-year prospective study covers around 100 cases of sudden deaths,” Dr. Aarav said. “The most common cause in these cases is cardiovascular disease. In nearly two-thirds of the cases, coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis were found. Around 50 percent of them had a history of smoking and alcohol use.”

He further clarified that while many of the individuals had received one, two, or booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, there was no direct link established between vaccination and cardiac death.  The data does not support the claim that the vaccine is the trigger,” he emphasized.

Dr. Abhishek Yadav from the Department of Forensic Medicine supported the conclusions by stating that there has been no significant rise in the number of cardiac deaths when comparing data from before and after the pandemic. “The overall numbers have remained stable, and we have not observed any unusual spike that would justify concerns about vaccination,” he noted.

Responding to skepticism over the speed at which COVID-19 vaccines were developed, Prof. Sanjay Rai from the Department of Community Medicine said the process, although fast-tracked, was scientifically sound. “COVID was an extraordinary emergency. That’s why phases 1, 2, and 3 of vaccine trials were conducted simultaneously with continuous expert oversight. There were daily reviews of safety and efficacy. The vaccine was rolled out after careful and continuous monitoring,” he explained.

Referring to a recent study conducted in the United Kingdom, Dr. Rima Dada from the Department of Anatomy highlighted that the COVID-19 vaccine has shown a cardioprotective effect.

She noted that beyond its primary role in preventing severe COVID-19 infection, the vaccine may also help reduce the risk of heart-related complications.

Adding perspective on the broader causes of sudden cardiac death, Prof. Rajiv Narang, Head of Cardiology at AIIMS, explained that not all heart-related deaths result from visible damage.

“There are several reasons for sudden cardiac death. In some cases, the heart appears structurally normal, but genetic or molecular changes can disrupt heart rhythm. A thickened heart muscle can also lead to rhythm disturbances,” he said. Prof. Narang stressed that many of these heart problems are preventable through lifestyle changes. “Quitting smoking and alcohol, managing diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reducing psychosocial stress, and abdominal obesity are essential. Regular exercise and eating plenty of vegetables and fruits can significantly reduce the risk.”

This emerging evidence adds to the growing understanding of the broader health benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

Other senior AIIMS doctors, including Dr. Karan Madan from Pulmonology and Dr. Deepali Jain from Hematology, also joined the panel to dispel public fears and clarify doubts related to vaccine safety.

While the final results of AIIMS’ study on sudden cardiac deaths are still awaited, the preliminary data strongly points to lifestyle and pre-existing heart conditions as primary causes—clearly distancing COVID-19 vaccines from these fatal outcomes.

The experts urged the public to rely on science and evidence instead of misinformation or speculation.