Characterization of Brighton Collaboration criteria for myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccine in Korean adolescents

Jue Seong Lee; HyoSug Choi; Seung Hwan Shin; Myung-Jae Hwang; Sara Na; Jong Hee Kim; Sangshin Park; Yoonsun Yoon; Hyun Mi Kang; Bin Ahn; Kyoungsan Seo; Young June Choe

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.032

Characterization of Brighton Collaboration criteria for myocarditis and pericarditis following COVID-19 vaccine in Korean adolescents

Vaccine. 2024 Apr 11:S0264-410X(24)00446-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.032. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
² Immunization Safety Group, COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
³ Graduate School of Urban Public Health, University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, The Catholic University of Korea St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁶ Department of Pediatrics, The Catholic University of Korea Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁷ College of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
⁸ Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: choey@korea.ac.kr.

PMID: 38604914
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.032

Abstract

Background: Vaccines are vital for public health, but concerns about adverse effects, particularly myocarditis and pericarditis linked to COVID-19 vaccines-, persist. This study investigates the application of Brighton Collaboration case definition to national vaccine safety data related to post-COVID-19 vaccine myo/pericarditis, utilizing claims under the Korea National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NIVCP).

Methods: This study analyzed 190 medical records of individuals who claimed to have developed myo/pericarditis after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, as reported to the NVICP between specified dates, categorizing cases based on the Brighton criteria for myocarditis or pericarditis.

Results: Between 2021-2022, NVICP received 190 cases meeting the Brighton criteria for myocarditis or pericarditis at levels 1, 2, or 3. Most cases fell into Level 2 (70%), followed by Level 1 (29%), and one at Level 3 (1%), with Level 1 cases showing a higher hospitalization rate (87.3%) and a notable proportion requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit (25.5%). Chest pain and Troponin-I/T elevation were common findings in Level 1 cases, while Level 2 cases exhibited similar patterns but at a slightly lower frequency. Electrocardiogram and echocardiography findings differed between the two levels.

Conclusion: The Brighton Collaboration case definition proved valuable for classifying and assessing AEFI data, enhancing our understanding of the potential relationship between myocarditis and the COVID-19 vaccine.

Keywords: Brighton; Compensation; Injury; Vaccine.