Risk of myocarditis and pericarditis in mRNA COVID-19-vaccinated and unvaccinated populations: a systematic review

Abdallah Alami1, Daniel Krewski2,3, Nawal Farhat4

  • 1School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada abdallahalami@cmail.carleton.ca.

BMJ Open
|June 20, 2023
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were associated with a doubled risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis in individuals without SARS-CoV-2 infection. This rare cardiac event risk warrants further investigation into biological mechanisms and high-risk groups.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Immunology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Myocarditis and pericarditis are inflammatory conditions of the heart muscle and outer lining, respectively.
  • mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been widely implemented globally, necessitating a thorough understanding of their safety profiles.
  • Assessing the risk of these cardiac events post-vaccination is crucial for informed public health decisions.

Conclusions:

  • mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a higher risk of myocarditis and/or pericarditis compared to being unvaccinated, in the absence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Despite the increased relative risk, the absolute number of these cardiac events remains low.
  • Further research is recommended to precisely determine these rates, elucidate biological mechanisms, and identify individuals at higher risk.

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