Covid linked to spike in heart attacks? Here's what Health Minister says

Union Health Ministry is conducting an investigation to find out the reason behind the sudden rise in cardiac arrests and the role of Covid in it, if any, Union Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya has said during an interview.

The statement is significant as more reports of sudden cardiac arrest in young and healthy people are reported from various parts of the country, leading to widespread debate on social media. Recently, #Heartattack trended on Twitter after a series of unfortunate cardiac deaths were reported of those who were otherwise healthy and fit.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Mandaviya said, "The government is investigating the link between the recent spate of heart attacks in young people with Covid, and the results are expected in two-three months."

"We saw so many young artists, athletes, sportspersons... they died on stage while performing. We all saw that, and reports started coming in from several places. We needed to investigate," he added.

The spikes in heart attack deaths have tracked with surges of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic. Now, in case of post-Covid vaccine too, we have seen an increase in cardiac events even when infected with a milder form of Covid infection.

Even as Covid vaccines have been marked safe and effective, some side effects related to the heart have been reported. However, there is no data to suggest that vaccines have played a role in an increase in the heart attack incidents.

Meanwhile, a top health ministry official said that the new Covid variant poses less risk and is unlikely to result in increase in hospitalisations but people need to remain vigilant.

"New strains keep coming after mutation..this is a new variant which has come..this would not lead to increase in hospitalisations so there is low risk associated with it," the top official said on Monday.

"But even then there is a need to remain vigilant," the official said.

Further, he noted that the current surge in the Covid cases could be attributed to the spread of the XBB 1.16 variant in the country.