Cardiac and Neurological Complications Post COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Case Series

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Vaccinology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Mass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have led to reports of cardiac and neurological adverse events.
• Understanding the spectrum and risk factors of these post-vaccination complications is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the range of cardiac and neurological complications following COVID-19 vaccination.
• To identify factors associated with the occurrence of these adverse events in vaccine recipients.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of case reports and case series from three electronic databases.
• Inclusion criteria focused on documented cardiac and/or neurological complications in COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
• Analysis of 698 vaccinees with reported complications.

Main Results:

• Neurological complications (62.9%) were more frequent than cardiac complications (37.1%).
• Common cardiac issues included inflammatory conditions; common neurological issues included polyneuropathy, demyelinating diseases, and cerebrovascular disorders.
• mRNA vaccines were linked to most cardiac issues, while viral vector vaccines were associated with over half of neurological issues. Cardiac events occurred more after the second dose, and neurological events more after the first dose.
• While most cases resolved, 5.9% of neurological and 2.5% of cardiac complication cases were fatal.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 vaccines are associated with a spectrum of cardiac and neurological complications, varying by vaccine type and dose.
• Vigilant monitoring and surveillance of vaccinated individuals are essential for early detection and management of these rare events.
• The findings underscore the importance of continued pharmacovigilance in the post-marketing phase of mass vaccination programs.