Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Author Spotlight: Exercise Test for Evaluation of the Functional Efficacy of the Pig Cardiovascular System
Published on: May 12, 2023
Cardiovascular events following coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination in adults: a nationwide Swedish study
Yiyi Xu1, Huiqi Li1, Ailiana Santosa1
1School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, BOX 414, 40 530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
COVID-19 vaccination offers significant cardiovascular protection, with rare, transient risks of myocarditis, extrasystoles, and transient ischemic attack. Full vaccination substantially reduces severe COVID-19 complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vaccinology
- Public Health
Background:
- The rationale for COVID-19 vaccination is to reduce mortality and complications.
- While rare cardiovascular events like myocarditis/pericarditis post-mRNA vaccination are known, evidence on other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events is limited.
- This study investigated the nationwide risks of various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events following COVID-19 vaccination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risks of specific cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after COVID-19 vaccination.
- To compare risks across different vaccine doses and types.
- To evaluate the overall impact of vaccination on cardiovascular health in a large population.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide register-based cohort study of 8,070,674 Swedish adults.
- Cox regression models were used to estimate Hazard Ratios (HRs) with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for post-vaccination events compared to unvaccinated individuals.
- Risk windows were assessed after each vaccine dose for myocarditis/pericarditis, dysrhythmias, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular events (transient ischemic attack, stroke).
Main Results:
- Most cardiovascular events showed decreased risks post-vaccination, particularly after the third dose (HRs 0.69–0.81).
- An increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis was confirmed 1–2 weeks after mRNA vaccination.
- Slightly increased risks were observed for extrasystoles (mainly in elderly males) and transient ischemic attack (mainly in elderly), which were transient and similar across vaccine types.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 vaccination is associated with a transiently increased risk of myopericarditis, extrasystoles, and transient ischemic attack.
- However, full vaccination significantly reduces the risk of more severe COVID-19-associated cardiovascular outcomes.
- The study underscores the substantial protective benefits of complete COVID-19 vaccination against severe cardiovascular complications.
Background And Aims:
While the rationale for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is to reduce complications and overall mortality, some cardiovascular complications from the vaccine itself have been demonstrated. Myocarditis and pericarditis are recognized as rare acute adverse events after mRNA vaccines in young males, while evidence regarding other cardiovascular events remains limited and inconsistent. This study assessed the risks of several cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in a Swedish nationwide register-based cohort.
Methods:
Post-vaccination risk of myocarditis/pericarditis, dysrhythmias, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular events (transient ischaemic attack and stroke) in several risk windows after each vaccine dose were assessed among all Swedish adults (n = 8 070 674). Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) compared with unvaccinated were estimated from Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounders.
Results:
For most studied outcomes, decreased risks of cardiovascular events post-vaccination were observed, especially after dose three (HRs for dose three ranging from .69 to .81), while replicating the increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis 1-2 weeks after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Slightly increased risks, similar across vaccines, were observed for extrasystoles [HR 1.17 (95% CI 1.06-1.28) for dose one and HR 1.22 (95% CI 1.10-1.36) for dose two, stronger in elderly and males] but not for arrhythmias and for transient ischaemic attack [HR 1.13 (95% CI 1.05-1.23), mainly in elderly] but not for stroke.
Conclusions:
Risk of myopericarditis (mRNA vaccines only), extrasystoles, and transient ischaemic attack was transiently increased after COVID-19 vaccination, but full vaccination substantially reduced the risk of several more severe COVID-19-associated cardiovascular outcomes, underscoring the protective benefits of complete vaccination.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:21Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation I: Adult
01:18Cardiovascular Drugs: Classification based on Therapeutic Indications
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
01:22Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
01:17Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...