Aziz Sheikh

Aziz Sheikh is a Researcher and 'Director at Health Data Research Hub for Respiratory Health' (BREATHE), Imperial College London.

1. Project: COVID-19 Phenomics.

Tasks: EHR case definitions and related codes.

Summary: A comprehensive, open-access resource providing the research community with information, tools and phenotyping algorithms for defining COVID-19 related phenotypes in UK electronic health records data.

Recording COVID-19 related events in electronic health records:

Electronic health records are digital records of a patient’s health and care. When small amounts of data from many patients are linked up and pooled, researchers and doctors can look for patterns. This information can be used to plan local services and research new treatments. Variations in how information is recorded in electronic health records can make this process hard. Using a standard set of identifiers, to describe things like symptoms and treatments, helps to ensure records are consistent and enables their use in health data research. BREATHE has contributed to the development of a standard set of definitions and codes, used to record COVID-19 related events in electronic health records.

2. Project: 'The COVIDENCE study: Identifying who is most at risk from COVID-19.'

Summary: COVIDENCE is a new study which will help identify who is most at risk of contracting COVID-19 and why some people become more ill than others with the disease. The study aims to recruit a diverse group of at least 12,000 people, including those who have already had proven or suspected COVID-19, and a mixture of people both with and without underlying conditions (such as diabetes, lung disease, heart disease and high blood pressure). The information gathered will help scientists to understand why certain people appear to be at greater risk. The study, which will run for up to five years, will also create a platform to fast-track future trials of preventative treatments, to see if they help to protect against COVID-19.

BREATHE Director, Professor Aziz Sheikh, is Scotland Lead for the project.

Category: Project
Hub: BREATHE
Name of project/reference: COVIDENCE
Key BREATHE contact: Aziz / Chris Griffiths
Notes / current state: Press release drafted - date TBC
Data depositing? Yes
Key comms contacts: QMUL press office Abigail Chard
Country: United Kingdom
Aziz.Sheikh@ed.ac.uk