NEW DELHI: Covid-19 vaccination is not linked to sudden unexplained deaths among young adults in recent times, claims the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after a multi-centre study which took into account factors associated with 729 such deaths reported from various parts of the country between October 1, 2021 and March 31, 2023.

ICMR has, however, suggested that past hospitalisation due to Covid-19, family history of sudden death and certain lifestyle issues may have a role to play.Globally, incidence of sudden death among young adults is estimated to be about 0.8-6.2 per 100,000 per year.ICMR says there were several anecdotal reports about sudden unexplained deaths among apparently healthy adults in India, purportedly linked to Covid-19 orCovid -19 jabs, which prompted it to take up study.A total of 29,171 sudden deaths among individuals aged 18-45 years were listed as potential cases from records maintained by 47 hospitals across 19 states/UTs.However, 729 cases involving people who died within 24 hours of hospitalisation or those who died outside the hospital setting within 24 hours of having been seen to be in an apparently healthy condition were included in the final list.The researchers then perused available records and interviewed family members to know their Covid-19 vaccination/infection status and lifestyle behaviour that could potentially be linked to the sudden, unexplained death.

For each case, four controls or healthy individuals of the same age group, gender and locality were recruited.According to the study results, published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, receipt of two doses of Covid-19 vaccine lowered the odds of unexplained sudden death.

“Patients with unexplained sudden death were four times more likely to have been hospitalised for Covid-19, whereas post-Covid-19 conditions were not associated.

Family history of sudden death was almost three times more likely to be associated with unexplained sudden death,” says the study.It adds, “Lifestyle factors such as current smoking status, alcohol use frequency, recent binge drinking, recreational drug/substance abuse and vigorous-intensity activity were positively associated with unexplained sudden deaths.

As compared to never users, the more the frequency of alcohol use, the higher was the odds for unexplained sudden death.”Multiple videos had surfaced on social media platforms in the recent past showing people, many of them young, collapsing and dying suddenly while dancing and singing or just out for a jog or a session in the gym.

According to some media reports, 10 people died due to heart attack during garba events in Gujarat during Navratri and the youngest of the victims was just 17.