Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 83 on July 25, 2025, regarding the rise in sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) following COVID-19. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) conducted two studies to investigate the causes. The studies analyzed risk factors and causes of sudden death in young adults, with data collected between October 2021 and August 2023.
Key Points / Main Content:
Study 1: Risk Factors for Sudden Death (ICMR-NIE Study)
* A retrospective case-control study was conducted across 47 hospitals in 19 States/Union Territories between May and August 2023.
* The study involved 729 cases of unexplained sudden death in individuals aged 18-45 and 2916 controls.
* Receiving two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduced the odds of unexplained sudden death.
* Past COVID-19 hospitalization, family history of sudden death, binge drinking, recreational drug use, and vigorous-intensity physical activity 48 hours before death increased the odds of sudden death.
* COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India.
Study 2: Causes of Sudden Death (AIIMS Study)
* A prospective study conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, in collaboration with ICMR, aimed to determine common causes of sudden death in young adults.
* Early analysis indicates that heart attacks (myocardial infarction) remain the leading cause of sudden death in this age group.
* No major changes in the pattern of causes have been observed compared to pre-COVID-19 pandemic years.
* COVID-19 vaccination does not appear to increase the risk of sudden death.
* Underlying health issues, genetic predisposition, and risky lifestyle choices play a role in unexplained sudden deaths.
Impact Analysis:
General Public:
* Impact: Awareness regarding risk factors associated with sudden cardiac death, including past COVID-19 hospitalization, family history, and lifestyle choices. Reassurance that COVID-19 vaccination does not increase the risk.
* Action Required: Consider lifestyle modifications to reduce risk factors, such as limiting alcohol consumption and recreational drug use. Maintain awareness of family medical history.
Healthcare Professionals:
* Impact: Enhanced understanding of the potential causes and risk factors for sudden cardiac death in young adults, particularly in the context of COVID-19.
* Action Required: Consider these risk factors when assessing patients, especially those with a history of COVID-19 or family history of sudden death.
Policymakers (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare):
* Impact: Data-driven insights for developing public health strategies related to cardiac health and COVID-19 vaccination.
* Action Required: Use the study findings to inform public health campaigns and guidelines, focusing on promoting healthy lifestyle choices and addressing risk factors for sudden cardiac death.
Key Entities Referenced
Sudden Cardiac Death: A critical health condition and the primary focus of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 83, concerning its rise potentially linked to COVID-19.
COVID-19: A viral infection investigated for its potential link to the rise in Sudden Cardiac Deaths and the impact of its vaccination on the risk of sudden death.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): The primary agency that conducted studies to investigate the causes of sudden death, as mentioned in the Lok Sabha question response.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): An organization that collaborated with ICMR to explore approaches to investigate the causes of sudden death.
ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE): A research institute under ICMR that conducted a case-control study on unexplained sudden deaths among adults in India.
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi: A medical institute that conducted a prospective study, funded by ICMR, to determine the common causes of sudden deaths in young adults.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government ministry responsible for addressing the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 83 regarding Sudden Cardiac Deaths.
SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA: The Minister of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 83.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH RESEARCH
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 83
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25THJULY, 2025
RISE IN SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATHSDUE TO COVID-19
83*. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:
Willthe Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the reasons behind the unusual
increase in the rate of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) amongst apparently healthy individuals with a history
of COVID-19 illness inthe country;
(b) if so, the detailsthereofand if not,the reasons therefor; and
(c) the number of people in the country who have died due to cardiac arrest with history of COVID-19
disease, State/UT-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIJAGATPRAKASH NADDA)
(a)to(c): AStatementislaid onthe Tableof the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERREDTO IN REPLYTO LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 83*FOR25THJULY, 2025
(a)to(c): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that ICMR and National Centre
for Disease Control (NCDC) explored two approaches to investigate the causes of sudden death. The first
approach was a retrospective case-control study to determine the risk factors associated with sudden death
and the second approach of the study was to prospectively investigate sudden deaths in young adults using
a virtual autopsy approach.The detailsof boththese studies are asfollows:
Study1: ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) conducted a study titled “Factors
associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India – A multicentric
matched case–control study” at 47tertiarycare hospitals locatedacross 19 States/UnionTerritories of India
during May- August 2023. Cases were apparently healthy individuals without any known co-morbidity,
who suddenly (<24 hours of hospitalization or seen apparently healthy 24 hours before death) died of
unexplained causes during 1st October 2021-31st March 2023. Four controls were included per case
matched for age, gender and neighbourhood. Information was collected regarding data on COVID-19
vaccination/infection, post-COVID-19 conditions, family history of sudden death, smoking, recreational
drug use, alcohol frequency, binge drinking and vigorous-intensity physical activity two days before death
amongthe cases / interviewed controls.
A total of 729 sudden death cases and 2916 controls were included in the analysis. It was observed that
receiving two doses of COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduced the odds of unexplained sudden death.
Past COVID-19 hospitalization, family history of sudden death, binge drinking 48 hours before
death/interview, use of recreational drug/substance and performing vigorous-intensity physical activity 48
hours before death/interviewincreased the oddsof sudden death.
Hence, the study observed that COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden
death among young adults in India. Past COVID-19 hospitalization, family history of sudden death and
certainlifestyle behavioursincreasedthe likelihoodof unexplainedsudden death.
Study 2: The second study, titled “Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young”
conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi with funding and in
collaboration with ICMR, isa prospective study aimedat determining the commoncauses of sudden deaths
in young adults. Early analysis of data from the study indicates that heart attacks, or myocardial infarction
(MI), continue to be the leading cause of sudden death in this age group. Importantly, no major changes in
the pattern of causes have been observed when compared with previous years before the Covid-19
pandemic.
Together, these two studies offer a more comprehensive understanding of sudden unexplained deaths in
young adults inIndia. It has also beenrevealed that COVID-19 vaccination does not appear toincrease the
risk, whereas, the role of underlying health issues, genetic predisposition and risky lifestyle choices does
playa role inunexplained sudden deaths.
*****