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Int J Gen Med
. 2024 Jul 23:17:3231-3237.
doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S467586. eCollection 2024. Occurrence of Myopericarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adults in the Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Study
Eidan M Al Zahrani 1 , Salah H Elsafi 2 , Rawan S Alkharraz 3 , Noureldin H Sahal 4 , Mohammed Almansori 5 , Ameen I Alhababi 6 , Zeyad S Alkharraz 2
Affiliations
Background: Evidence supporting the possible causal association of myopericarditis with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine has mainly come from case reports. Epidemiological evidence indicating an increased relative risk for myopericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and assess all confirmed COVID-19 vaccine- related cases of myopericarditis presenting to major cardiac centers in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, before and after the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Methods: According to case definition, the hospital's information system database detected all confirmed cases at two main cardiac centers.
Results: Of the 18 confirmed myocarditis and myopericarditis cases detected after the administration of COVID-19 vaccines, three were possibly related to COVID-19 immunization. The first case was of myopericarditis following a third dose of mRNA-1273. The second case was myocarditis, which occurred seven days after the first dose of AstraZeneca. The third case was myocarditis, which occurred 12 days after the third dose of BNT162b2. A cardiologist carefully evaluated the cases using recognized protocols and case definitions to demonstrate a direct relationship with vaccination consequences rather than coincidence.
Conclusion: We found no difference in the occurrence of myocarditis and myopericarditis after the COVID-19 vaccine compared with the background rate during a similar period (P = 0.9783). The incidences of myocarditis and myopericarditis following immunization were low. The advantages of the COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risk of myopericarditis.
Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Myocarditis; Myopericarditis; Saudi Arabia.
. 2024 Jul 23:17:3231-3237.
doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S467586. eCollection 2024. Occurrence of Myopericarditis Following COVID-19 Vaccination Among Adults in the Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Study
Eidan M Al Zahrani 1 , Salah H Elsafi 2 , Rawan S Alkharraz 3 , Noureldin H Sahal 4 , Mohammed Almansori 5 , Ameen I Alhababi 6 , Zeyad S Alkharraz 2
Affiliations
- PMID: 39070223
- PMCID: PMC11283260
- DOI: 10.2147/IJGM.S467586
Background: Evidence supporting the possible causal association of myopericarditis with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine has mainly come from case reports. Epidemiological evidence indicating an increased relative risk for myopericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and assess all confirmed COVID-19 vaccine- related cases of myopericarditis presenting to major cardiac centers in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia, before and after the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Methods: According to case definition, the hospital's information system database detected all confirmed cases at two main cardiac centers.
Results: Of the 18 confirmed myocarditis and myopericarditis cases detected after the administration of COVID-19 vaccines, three were possibly related to COVID-19 immunization. The first case was of myopericarditis following a third dose of mRNA-1273. The second case was myocarditis, which occurred seven days after the first dose of AstraZeneca. The third case was myocarditis, which occurred 12 days after the third dose of BNT162b2. A cardiologist carefully evaluated the cases using recognized protocols and case definitions to demonstrate a direct relationship with vaccination consequences rather than coincidence.
Conclusion: We found no difference in the occurrence of myocarditis and myopericarditis after the COVID-19 vaccine compared with the background rate during a similar period (P = 0.9783). The incidences of myocarditis and myopericarditis following immunization were low. The advantages of the COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risk of myopericarditis.
Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Myocarditis; Myopericarditis; Saudi Arabia.