COVID-19 Research Round-up | 28 April 2021
We are continuing to work in partnership to support the UK government and the NHS in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to enable rapid health data research into COVID-19.
The highlights for this update include:
- INSIGHTS in our latest report to SAGE
- READ the 12 things we’ve learnt about COVID-19
- WATCH Economic scarring from the COVID-19 induced crisis
- DISCOVER COVID-19 data and tools on the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway
INSIGHTS: Our latest report to SAGE
This week we published the latest research insights and data access updates in our regular report that we share with SAGE (the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies), UK Research and Innovation and the wider science community.
The highlights for this report include the following research, all of which demonstrate the benefits and insights that can be gained from using linked health data at scale:
The latest analyses from the community survey, REACT-1, has suggested that the vaccine rollout has resulted in fewer COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths.
Analyses of electronic health records of nearly a million NHS staff show significant increases in absences due to mental illness .
In a separate study, a collaboration of 12 UK longitudinal studies using deep data from nearly 60,000 participants found that the pandemic is significantly increasing existing mental health inequalities.
There are a number of encouraging studies demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccines, potential new drug targets, and a new treatment for non-hospitalised patients, identified through the PRINCIPLE trial.
Patient and public voice feedback
As always, our reports on COVID-19 research and data are reviewed by our patient and public advisors. There was a key focus to ensure that as the pandemic moves out of the move ‘emergency phase’ there is sustained momentum, particularly around second dose vaccine hesitancy, and the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health.
To read their feedback:
READ: 12 crucial questions about COVID-19 answered by health data research
Expert analysis of health data has been central to tackling COVID-19, showing us how we can reduce its spread, vaccinate against it, and how to most effectively treat people who fall seriously ill.
Our work over the past 12 months, has made sure that researchers can quickly access information relevant to COVID-19, and has enabled experts to make swift breakthroughs.
We have put together a list of the top 12 questions that health data science has answered about COVID-19.
WATCH: Economic scarring from the COVID-19 induced crisis
Stephen Machin from The London School of Economics presented to the Data and Connectivity National Core Studies delivery group on the progress of his successfully awarded research project, Economic scarring from the COVID-19 induced crisis monitoring inequality in economic and education outcomes, through a rapid funding call by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), The Office for National Statistics (ONS), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
DISCOVER: COVID-19 data on the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway
There are now over 600 datasets listed and available to request access through this platform. These include 6 dedicated collections (54 datasets) for the National Core Studies into COVID-19, openly available to discover and request access.
