A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has debunked claims that COVID-19 vaccines or the virus itself caused an increase in cardiac arrests among athletes. This research, spanning six years, compared the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest and cardiac deaths among young athletes before and during the pandemic. The results confirmed that there was no significant increase, contradicting widespread misinformation that circulated during the pandemic.
The study analyzed data from 2017 to 2022, focusing on athletes aged 10 to 34. The researchers found that 203 cardiac arrests or deaths occurred between 2017 and 2019, while 184 cases were recorded from 2020 to 2022. These findings indicate that there was no surge in sudden cardiac events among young athletes during the pandemic. The study was conducted under the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research and led by Dr. Jonathan Drezner, a prominent sports cardiologist at the University of Washington.
Dr. Drezner emphasized that the data should lay to rest any lingering skepticism regarding claims that COVID-19 vaccines were responsible for increased heart-related incidents. “There was really no change in the overall frequency of sudden cardiac arrest and death in young athletes across the U.S.,” he stated.
During the pandemic, misinformation spread rapidly on social media, falsely claiming that vaccinated athletes were collapsing due to heart complications. One widely circulated video compiled clips of athletes collapsing during games, fueling conspiracy theories. Despite repeated fact-checking by medical professionals, some figures, including Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, continued to push the narrative that COVID-19 vaccines were linked to heart issues.
A turning point in these false claims came in 2023, when Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a game. His collapse was immediately seized upon by anti-vaccine activists who attributed it to COVID-19 vaccination. However, no medical evidence supported this assertion. Similarly, when basketball player Bronny James, son of LeBron James, experienced a cardiac arrest during practice, misinformation again spread, attempting to link his medical emergency to vaccines.
However, multiple studies, including research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have found no causal relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and sudden cardiac arrests. The CDC reviewed 1,300 cases of cardiac-related deaths among people aged 16 to 30 and found no definitive link between the vaccine and cardiac-related fatalities.
While myocarditis a rare inflammation of the heart muscle has been observed as a side effect of COVID-19 vaccines, it remains an uncommon condition. Moreover, the risk of developing myocarditis is significantly higher after contracting COVID-19 than after receiving a vaccine. In the study by Dr. Drezner, only three cases of myocarditis-related sudden cardiac deaths were recorded before the pandemic, compared to four during the pandemic years. This suggests no alarming trend related to COVID-19 or vaccination.
Doctors initially feared that COVID-19 might lead to a greater incidence of myocarditis, especially among athletes, but research has shown that the risks were comparable to other respiratory viruses. Additionally, most cases of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes are linked to genetic conditions or preexisting heart defects rather than infections or vaccinations.
Interestingly, the study also found that about 30% of the young athletes who suffered cardiac arrest were not engaged in strenuous activity at the time. This challenges the common belief that cardiac arrests in athletes always occur during intense exercise.
Medical professionals now recommend that athletes who contract COVID-19 avoid exercise until they recover fully. If myocarditis develops, the updated guidelines allow athletes to return to competition sooner than before, provided their symptoms and inflammation have resolved. Previously, athletes were advised to wait up to six months before resuming intense sports activities, but recent adjustments to medical protocols allow for a shorter recovery period if properly monitored.
The findings of this study serve as an important counterpoint to the misinformation that spread during the pandemic. They reaffirm that COVID-19 vaccines do not pose a significant risk of sudden cardiac arrest in athletes and emphasize the importance of relying on scientific evidence over speculation. While social media has amplified false claims, rigorous research continues to set the record straight, ensuring that public health policies remain grounded in fact rather than fear.
