University of Edinburgh

Academic Institute

CCU106

Kidney disease is a major health issue, affecting ~20% of adults over the age of 35 in England. Heart disease – including heart attacks, heart failure and stroke – is the commonest cause of death in patients with kidney disease, and this risk increases as kidney function declines. In patients with kidney disease, COVID-19 led to worse outcomes, in particular an increased risk of death from heart disease, and the pandemic resulted in disruptions to routine kidney care. Our study will be the first to explore how rates of kidney and heart disease diagnosis changed before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We will assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient treatment and outcomes and, through analysing large datasets, we aim to uncover whether any disparities exist based on age, sex, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Our study will determine both the short- and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment and outcomes of heart disease. Critically, we will identify if any disparities in treatment exist between those with and without kidney disease. We will also establish whether management of kidney disease changed during the pandemic. Finally, we will identify whether inequalities exist (e.g., based on age, sex, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status) in the healthcare patients receive and their outcomes. As part of this, we will establish if there were any disparities in rate of COVID-19 vaccination (e.g., based on age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status) and whether this impacted on treatment and outcomes of heart disease and kidney disease. These findings will inform policymakers to change healthcare delivery to address any inequities we identify.

01/05/2025

31/12/2025

02/04/2025

De-Personalised

01/05/2025

TRE