Bookmarks
CCU104: Neurological consequences of COVID-19: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stroke and dementia in England
Safe People
Organisation name
University of Cambridge
Organisation sector
Academic Institute
Applicant name(s)
Eric Harshfield
Funders/ Sponsors
Safe Projects
Project ID
CCU104
Lay summary
Stroke and dementia are among the leading causes of death and disability in England. Research suggests that COVID-19 may increase the risk of both conditions. However, there is limited understanding of how COVID-19 interacts with vascular risk factors and medications to influence whether individuals experience a stroke or develop dementia and how severe the long-term effects will be. This project will explore how these factors, including COVID-19 infection, treatment, and vaccination status, interact in the development and progression of stroke and dementia. This study will provide critical information for mitigating risks for affected individuals and aims to successfully predict whether certain COVID-19 patient groups are at heightened risk of neurological consequences. The aims of this project are: 1. To analyse whether COVID-19 is associated with an increased incidence of stroke and dementia and identify risk factors that may exacerbate these conditions. This will advance understanding of the long-term neurological impact of COVID-19, helping to better inform risk mitigation strategies. 2. To explore whether medications prescribed for stroke and dementia treatment (e.g. anticoagulants, antihypertensives, memantine) contribute to the onset and progression of these conditions and whether these treatments interact with COVID-19 infection, treatment, and vaccination, potentially modifying the risk of stroke and dementia. 3. To enhance clinical risk prediction models for the susceptibility and prognosis of stroke and dementia, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on these risks, aiming to enable earlier interventions and better targeted treatments.
Public benefit statement
This research will provide valuable insights into how COVID-19 has impacted the incidence and progression of dementia and stroke. Understanding the effects of COVID-19 and vascular risk factors on these conditions, alongside the influence of commonly used treatments, could lead to the implementation better management of patients in high-risk groups and more accurate prediction of patient outcomes. Visit the BHF Data Science Centre website for more detailed information about project outputs. https://bhfdatasciencecentre.org/projects/ccu104/
Technical summary
This project accessed the following datasets within the Trusted Research Environment(s) for CVD-COVID-UK / COVID-IMPACT: - ENGLAND: - Civil Registration - Deaths - COVID-19 SARI-Watch (formerly CHESS) - Covid-19 Second Generation Surveillance System - Covid-19 UK Non-hospital Antibody Testing Results - Covid-19 UK Non-hospital Antigen Testing Results - COVID-19 Vaccination Status - Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS) - GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19) - Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency - Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care - Hospital Episode Statistics Critical Care - Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients - ICNARC: Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre - Medicines dispensed in Primary Care (NHSBSA data) - Secondary Care Prescribed Medicines (EPMA) - Secondary Uses Services Payment By Results - Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme Clinical Dataset - Uncurated Low Latency Hospital Data (Admitted Patient Care, Outpatients, Critical Care)
Other approval committees
Project start date
01/06/2025
Project end date
31/05/2027
Latest approval date
10/07/2025
Safe Data
Dataset(s) name
Data sensitivity level
De-Personalised
Release/Access date
10/07/2025
Safe Setting
Access type
TRE