Bengaluru, 15 July

State Minister for Medical Education Sharanprakash Patil on Tuesday said there has been no rise in cardiac deaths or hospital admissions in the State, vis-a-vis Covid-19 vaccination and that the findings align with those of AIIMS, New Delhi. There was no need for panic, he said.

"So, people need not panic. There is no correlation between the Covid vaccine and these deaths," Patil said.

Patil along with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, was addressing a press conference at Vikas Soudha to highlight the findings of reports by the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research (JICSR), Bengaluru.

The reports investigated the rising trend of sudden cardiovascular events—heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths, notably in Hassan.

While NIMHANS reviewed the records of all confirmed SARS‑CoV2 patients admitted from March to September 2020 with neurological symptoms—about 3,200 in total—JICSR studied 251 patients admitted between April 1 and May 31.

According to the NIMHANS study, among the 3,200 patients treated for neurological illness during the study period, only 120 patients—about 3.7 per cent—had confirmed Covid‑19 infection with neurological disorders.

The JICSR study established that only 19 patients—about 7.6 per cent—recalled a prior infection, while virtually all (249/251) had received at least one vaccine dose.

Dr KS Ravindranath, Director of JICSR, who was also present at the press conference, said the observational study conducted at JICSR did not find any association between premature cardiovascular disease and a prior history of Covid-19 infection or Covid vaccination.

"Covid vaccination has been shown to be protective against cardiac events in the long term," noted Ravindranath.

Patil added, "(Among the 24), only 10 were due to heart attacks; the remaining deaths were due to other causes."

Patil said post-Covid lifestyle changes have led to a rise in diabetes and blood pressure cases.

"Dietary habits have changed, and stress levels have increased," he added.

Gundu Rao insisted that there is no need for screening children for heart diseases. "We will organise awareness programmes through Jayadeva Hospital (JICSR)," he added.

Sharanprakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education

Only those showing symptoms of heart-related illness should go for a medical check-up. Don’t rush to hospitals without a reason,