New horizons in the use of routine data for ageing research

Todd, O. M. et al. (2020) New horizons in the use of routine data for ageing research. Age and Ageing, 49(5), pp. 716-722. (doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaa018)

Abstract

The past three decades have seen a steady increase in the availability of routinely collected health and social care data and the processing power to analyse it. These developments represent a major opportunity for ageing research, especially with the integration of different datasets across traditional boundaries of health and social care, for prognostic research and novel evaluations of interventions with representative populations of older people. However, there are considerable challenges in using routine data at the level of coding, data analysis and in the application of findings to everyday care. New Horizons in applying routine data to investigate novel questions in ageing research require a collaborative approach between clinicians, data scientists, biostatisticians, epidemiologists and trial methodologists. This requires building capacity for the next generation of research leaders in this important area. There is a need to develop consensus code lists and standardised, validated algorithms for common conditions and outcomes that are relevant for older people to maximise the potential of routine data research in this group. Lastly, we must help drive the application of routine data to improve the care of older people, through the development of novel methods for evaluation of interventions using routine data infrastructure. We believe that harnessing routine data can help address knowledge gaps for older people living with multiple conditions and frailty, and design interventions and pathways of care to address the complex health issues we face in caring for older people.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: This work was supported by: Dunhill Medical Trust, UK [RTF107/0117 to OMT]; NHS Education for Scotland, Scotland Clinical Research Excellence Development Scheme Clinical Lectureship [JKB]; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre [RD]; Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) [JH, RL]; Alzheimer Scotland and the University of Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive epidemiology [MR/L501530/1 to KEW]; NIHR Clinical Lectureship [CW]; Wellcome Trust [206,470/Z/17/Z to MH]; NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, Yorkshire & Humber [NIHR ARC YH to AC].
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Quinn, Professor Terry and Burton, Dr Jenni
• Authors: Todd, O. M., Burton, J. K., Dodds, R. M., Hollinghurst, J., Lyons, R. A., Quinn, T. J., Schneider, A., Walesby, K. E., Wilkinson, C., Conroy, S., Gale, C. P., Hall, M., Walters, K., and Clegg, A. P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Age and Ageing
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 0002-0729
• ISSN (Online): 1468-2834
• Published Online: 10 February 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2020
• First Published: First published in Age and Ageing 49(5): 716-722
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license