No increase in sudden cardiac deaths in athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-02-24 03:00

International

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

There was no increase in sudden cardiac deaths in young competitive athletes in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research. Social media and media report have insinuated that a COVID-19 illness or mRNA vaccines caused an increase, but the authors say many athlete cases shown in social media video montages occurred before the pandemic, yet claimed COVID-19 infection or vaccination raised the risk. The study found there were 203 cases of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in the prepandemic period and 184 cases in the pandemic period.

Media release

From: JAMA

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Among Young Competitive Athletes Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

JAMA Network Open
Research Letter

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

About The Study: This cohort study found no increase in sudden cardiac arrest/sudden cardiac death in young competitive athletes in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that reports asserting otherwise were overestimating the cardiovascular risk of COVID-19 infection, vaccination, and myocarditis. Many athlete cases shown in social media video montages occurred before the pandemic yet claimed COVID-19 infection or vaccination raised the risk of sudden cardiac arrest/sudden cardiac death.

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61327)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

# # #

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Research JAMA, Web page Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends).

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University ofWashington, USA

Funder: This study was supported by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), funded in part by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, the American Football Coaches Association, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine

Media Contact/s

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.