Study finds highest heart inflammation rates in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients

A large-scale observational study published in the journal Vaccine has analyzed the risks of heart inflammation and death among young people aged 16 to 25 in relation to COVID-19 and vaccination.

Researchers from SUNY Upstate Medical University conducted a retrospective analysis of electronic health records from approximately 4.1 million individuals. The study found that young adults who were unvaccinated and had contracted COVID-19 experienced the highest recorded rates of myocarditis, pericarditis, and death. In contrast, those who were vaccinated but had no recorded COVID-19 infection showed the lowest rates of these conditions.

The research highlights that while mRNA vaccines are associated with rare instances of myocarditis and pericarditis, these risks are also documented following COVID-19 infection. The study notes that while it can identify patterns across large populations, its observational nature means it cannot definitively prove whether vaccination caused lower rates or if infection caused higher ones.