Twelve things we know about Covid-19, thanks to health data research

The 12 things we’ve learned so far about COVID-19 from health data research are: 

1. Around 40 strains of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus came to the UK, mainly from Europe
2. Data from millions of COVID Symptom Study app users showed that loss of smell is a key symptom of COVID-19, leading to a change in NHS guidance
3. Men, older people and those with underlying health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, are more at risk of worse outcomes from COVID-19
4. People from Black, South Asian and minority ethnic groups in the UK are more likely to get COVID-19 and are at greater risk of worse outcomes
5. Obesity increases the chances of falling seriously ill or being hospitalised with COVID-19, even for younger people
6. Pregnant women aren’t at greater risk from severe COVID-19 overall, although Black and ethnic minority women and those with underlying health problems are more likely to be hospitalised
7. COVID-19 outbreaks are more likely in large care homes, especially those with lower staffing levels  
8. Children and young people become less seriously ill with COVID-19 than adults, and severe disease is rare
9. The RECOVERY trial showed that the drug dexamethasone cuts deaths by up to a third in severely ill COVID-19 patients while hydroxychloroquine and the antiviral combination lopinavir-ritonavir don’t help - health data was a vital part of the trial 
10. Young people have suffered most with mental health issues, such as anxiety, during lockdown
11. There could be between 7,000-18,000 additional cancer deaths in the next year directly and indirectly due to COVID-19
12. Around 5,000 heart attack sufferers might have missed out on life-saving hospital treatment as a result of the pandemic

Much of the data is now available to find and request access to via the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway. This is a new online portal allowing researchers to find detailed information about nearly 500 datasets held by organisations across the UK including members of the UK Health Data Research Alliance - a collaborative group of 33 major health, care and research organisations including NHS trusts, charities, institutes and registries.

And now, Health Data Research UK will be hosting a free online public event on Friday, 2 October at 12.30pm. The event will bring together people from the UK health data research community to talk about the work that’s been done so far to understand COVID-19 across the UK population, and to highlight the importance of including all groups in society in health data research for COVID-19 and beyond. 

The UK’s health data research effort in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented in its scale and scope, including: 

1. 110 health data research questions prioritised by the National Health Data Research COVID Response Team
2. 56 million GP records made safely and securely available for essential COVID-19 research and response
3. More than 4.2 million users of the COVID Symptom Study app, revealing new symptoms and regional hotspots - the study data is securely accessible through the Health Data Research Innovation Gateway
4. More than 48,000 SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes analysed by the COG-UK Consortium
5. More than 12,000 patients from 176 NHS hospitals enrolled in the RECOVERY COVID-19 treatment trial
6. 80,000 patients recruited into the ISARIC-4C study, finding out how COVID-19 is affecting people across the UK
7. More than 3,900 people in the GenOMICC study, investigating how individual genetic makeup affects the severity of COVID-19 symptoms
8. 62 volunteers in Health Data Research UK’s Patient Advisory Group, providing vital input into COVID-19 research plans

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Image source (top): https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/news/12-things-weve-learnt-about-covid-19-from-health-data-research/