Myopericarditis After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination Among Adolescents and Young Adults : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Importance

Published data on COVID-19 mRNA vaccine–associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults have been derived from small case series, national population-based studies, or passive reporting systems. Pooled evidence from a larger, international cohort is scarce.

Objective

To investigate the clinical features and early outcomes associated with myopericarditis after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in a heterogeneous population of adolescents and young adults.

Data Sources

PubMed and EMBASE were searched through August 2022. Language restrictions were not applied.

Study Selection

Observational studies and case series describing COVID-19 vaccine–associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 20 years and reporting clinical characteristics and early outcomes were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Two independent investigators extracted relevant data from each study. One-group meta-analysis in a random effects model was performed. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines were followed.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcomes were clinical features and early outcomes for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine–associated myopericarditis, including incident rate, cardiac findings, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality.

Results

A total of 23 observational studies were identified, including 854 individuals (mean age, 15.9 [95% CI, 15.5-16.2] years) with COVID-19 vaccine–associated myopericarditis. Male sex was predominant, at 90.3% (95% CI, 87.3%-93.2%) of individuals. The incident rate was higher after the second dose than the first dose, with 74.4% (95% CI, 58.2%-90.5%) of events occurring after the second dose. Most patients (84.4% [95% CI, 80.5%-88.3%] of patients) had preserved left ventricular (LV) function. Of the 15.6% (95% CI, 11.7%-19.5%) of patients with LV systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] <55%), most (14.1% [95% CI, 10.2%-18.1%]) were mild (ie, LVEF 45%-54%), and only 1.3% (95% CI, 0%-2.6%) of patients had severe LV systolic dysfunction (ie, LVEF<35%). Interestingly, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed late gadolinium enhancement in 87.2% (95% CI, 79.8%-94.7%) of patients. Although 92.6% (95% CI, 87.8%-97.3%) of patients were hospitalized and 23.2% (95% CI, 11.7%-34.7%) of patients required ICU admission, inotropes were used in only 1.3% (95% CI, 0%-2.7%) of patients, no patients died or required mechanical support, and the hospital length of stay was 2.8 (95% CI, 2.1-3.5) days.

Conclusions and Relevance

This systematic review and meta-analysis found low incidence rate and largely favorable early outcomes of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine–associated myopericarditis in adolescents and young adults from a wide range of populations. These findings are reassuring but continued follow-up is warranted.