COVID-19 Vaccine Induces 'Broken Heart Syndrome' (Cardiomyopathy): Journal 'Cureus'

The disease is characterized by sudden weakening of the heart muscle, leading to heart attack-like symptoms.

A study published last month in the journal Cureus confirmed multiple cases of the COVID-19 vaccine “induc[ing]” heart disease called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), also known as ‘broken heart syndrome.’

The disease is characterized by sudden weakening of the heart muscle, leading to heart attack-like symptoms.

The study authors explained how “[c]oncerns have been raised on reports of TCM after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine” and that their “provides comprehensive detail on COVID-19 vaccine-induced TCM.”

They searched major databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar up to November 2023.

They identified more than a dozen cases of COVID-19 vaccine-induced TCM using the keywords “covid-19 vaccines” and “takotsubo cardiomyopathy.”

“We identified 15 case reports, including 16 patients with COVID-19 vaccine-induced TCM,” they write. “The mean age was 55.81 ± 19.13 years, and 75% of the patients were female.”

The most common ailment was chest pain (62.5%), while the average time to first symptom onset was less than a week following vaccination.

COVID vaccine-induced TCM was reported in 43.75% of patients who received a first and second dose of the jab.

A majority of the patients (87%) had received mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna).

Patients with weakened heart pumping showed elevated cardiac troponin levels, indicating heart muscle damage.

The most common electrocardiographic abnormality, T-wave inversion (found in 50% of cases), suggests potential heart issues, according to the study.

The authors conclude by warning about the link between COVID vaccines and TCM:

“COVID-19 vaccine-induced TCM is a rare but life-threatening complication,” they write. “TCM should be included in the differential diagnosis of chest pain or dyspnea in patients recently receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.”