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CCU108: Simulation modelling of aortic disease detection and management: implications for post-COVID policy
Safe People
Organisation name
University of Cambridge
Organisation sector
Academic Institute
Applicant name(s)
Lois Kim
Funders/ Sponsors
Safe Projects
Project ID
CCU108
Lay summary
The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of cardiovascular disease in the population. This increase may have exaggerated existing inequalities in disease risk and access to services, for example, related to sex, ethnicity, social deprivation, and region. This may be particularly true for tears in the aorta – one of the major blood vessels of the body. Diseases of the aorta – such as thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and aortic dissection (AD) are typically “silent” until a catastrophic clinical event where the blood vessel tears, which carries a high risk to life. Development of these conditions and/or access to services may have shifted during the pandemic, and some groups may have been more impacted than others. We will develop statistical models to answer these questions and will explore whether changes to services offered could help improve clinical outcomes and/or reduce inequalities.
Public benefit statement
This work will benefit the public and patients through: • Identifying the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted aortic disease risk and management. • Identifying the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted inequalities in aortic disease risk and management. • Guiding national healthcare policies by exploring policies that reduce aortic disease and/or inequalities in aortic disease.
Technical summary
This project accessed the following datasets within the Trusted Research Environment(s) for CVD-COVID-UK / COVID-IMPACT: - ENGLAND: - GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19) - Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care - Hospital Episode Statistics Critical Care - Hospital Episode Statistics Outpatients - Hospital Episode Statistics Accident and Emergency - Secondary Uses Services Payment By Results - Uncurated Low Latency Hospital Data (Admitted Patient Care, Outpatients, Critical Care) - Emergency Care Data Set (ECDS) - Civil Registration - Deaths - ICNARC: Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre - Medicines dispensed in Primary Care (NHSBSA data) - Secondary Care Prescribed Medicines (EPMA) - NICOR – MINAP: Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project - NICOR – NHFA: National Heart Failure Audit - NICOR – NACSA: National Adult Cardiac Surgery Audit - NICOR – NACRM: National Audit of Cardiac Rhythm Management - Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme Clinical Dataset
Other approval committees
Project start date
01/11/2025
Project end date
31/01/2027
Latest approval date
18/12/2025
Safe Data
Dataset(s) name
Data sensitivity level
De-Personalised
Release/Access date
18/12/2025
Safe Setting
Access type
TRE