Increased cardiovascular emergencies during vaccine rollout

Using a unique dataset from Israel National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from 2019 to 2021, an increase of over 25% was detected in both cardiac arrest (CA) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) EMS calls during January–May 2021, compared with the years 2019–2020. 

This study leveraged the Israel National EMS (IEMS) data system and analyzed all calls related to CA and ACS events over two and a half years, from January 1st, 2019, throughout June 20th, 2021. Using Negative Binomial regression models, the weekly emergency call counts were significantly associated with the rates of 1st and 2nd vaccine doses administered to this age group but were not with COVID-19 infection rates. 

These findings are emphasized by Figures that present the graphs described in the “Methods” section for both CA and ACS, CA only, and ACS only, respectively. Both the CA and ACS call counts (red curve) start increasing early January 2021 and seem to track closely the 2nd dose curve (solid blue curve). They peak around early March and then decrease during March and the first part of April (Figs. 1B and 2B). The graphs also highlight the lack of association between the COVID-19 infection counts (grey curve) and the CA and ACS call counts, which is most clearly seen during the first two major infection waves in 2020.

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REFERENCE

Sun, C.L.F., Jaffe, E. & Levi, R. Increased emergency cardiovascular events among under-40 population in Israel during vaccine rollout and third COVID-19 wave. Sci Rep 12, 6978 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10928-z

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