New analysis on the risk for myocarditis or pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

A comprehensive review and meta-analysis of published research confirm that young adults (40 years old and younger) have a slightly elevated risk for myocarditis or pericarditis after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. The analysis is reported in a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier.

Key findings include:

A second vaccine dose is associated with a greater risk of the cardiovascular reaction than the first dose.
The increased risk is only associated with mRNA (e.g., mRNA-1273 and BNT162b2 – the latter linked to a slightly lower risk than the former), but not other vaccine types (e.g., Corona-Vac.).
While males are more likely to develop myocarditis/pericarditis (established by research prior to the pandemic), female susceptibility increases after the COVID-19 vaccine.
The incidence of myocarditis/pericarditis for those infected with SARS-CoV-2 is higher than it is after vaccination.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the cardiac muscle that may present with chest pain, fever, congestive heart failure, or arrhythmias and can lead to death. Pericarditis generally causes severe chest pain behind the sternum. Both are believed to result from autoinflammation and be related to the immune response to viral infection.

Dr. Sun pointed out, "When myocarditis or pericarditis develop after a COVID-19 vaccination, the symptoms are usually less severe and largely self-remitting compared with other cases. As a clinician, I strongly recommend that people get a COVID 19 vaccine unless there are absolute contraindications such as known allergies. The benefits and harms must be carefully assessed to determine the best management option for patients who are in the high risk-group."

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