SAIL Databank News. Published 27th Feb.
Liver disease represents a significant public health challenge in Wales, with increasing incidence rates noted across diverse populations, including both rural and urban areas. Notably, the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has surged, becoming the primary cause of liver-related health issues since 2014. Given these trends, tackling liver disease has become a critical focus for the Welsh Government.
We spoke to Research Officer and Data Scientist Jingwei Gao from Swansea University, to learn more about this important study.
Why is this research needed?
The imperative to enhance clinical outcomes and improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from liver disease requires an informed approach to healthcare delivery. The establishment of the Liver Research Cymru Partnership is a strategic response to this need. This collaboration aims to integrate clinical expertise from the liver disease implementation group (LDIG) with robust research capabilities, facilitating the development of impactful research that can inform effective healthcare strategies.
This published output is the initial output from the Liver Research Cymru Partnership (LDCP) and establishes the foundation of the methodology created by the group in curating a comprehensive e-cohort, standardising the cohort curation procedures, and enabling the exploration of crucial clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with liver disease diagnoses in Wales. This research not only enriches our understanding of the disease’s dynamics but also underscores the urgent need for early detection strategies. The insights garnered from this study are expected to further guide policy-making and enhance intervention strategies, thereby improving health outcomes across the population.
What are the aims of this research?
Establishment of the e-cohort
- Generate the LDCP cohort as a research-ready data asset (RRDA), integrating data from primary care, secondary care, and mortality records with demographic, socioeconomic, diagnostic, and prescription information.
Developing a reproducible data pipeline
- We have standardised and documented the cohort curation process to enhance the study’s reliability and reproducibility, allowing for replication and further research.
Exploring the incidence and associated characteristics of liver disease
- We have employed this novel methodology to define liver disease stages, investigating the incidence and the key demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, and comorbidities of liver disease patients in Wales.
How was SAIL Databank used in your research?
The SAIL Databank offered researchers access to:
- Extensive Records – Data on a longitudinal population-scale set of data sources, including data on over 5 million individuals between 2004 to 2022 over the population of Wales.
- Comprehensive data – Detailed demographic, socioeconomic, diagnostic, and prescription information for in-depth analysis of the target population across a range of linked anonymised data sources.
- Integrated linkages – The ability to link across various data sources, facilitating the integration of data sources and enabling longitudinal patient pathway evaluation.
What is the anticipated impact of your research?
This published output represents the inaugural effort of the Liver Research Cymru Partnership (LDCP), laying the groundwork for future initiatives. Through the establishment of the Research Ready Data Asseet (RRDA) and the application of a novel Liver Registry methodology within the SAIL Databank, we are set to transform our understanding of liver health in Wales.
The anticipated impact of this research is substantial. The e-cohort developed through this study will help us in a better understanding of the incidence rate and associated complications of liver disease. It also provides a basis for generating crucial data on liver disease progression, identifying population at risk and gaps in current service provisions, and pinpointing critical areas for improvement and development. These insights will eventually inform and provide guidance for the enhancement of hepatology services. We expect this up-to-date and comprehensive epidemiological data will not only benefit Wales but will also have far-reaching impact across the UK and globally, particularly in the evolving post-COVID-19 environment.
Project partners and funders?
Jingwei Gao 1, Ashley Akbari 1, Haroon Ahmed 2, Aled Davies 3, Andrew Yeoman 4, Thomas Peter Ignatius Pembroke 5
Affiliations:
1 Population Data Science, Swansea University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health & Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
2 Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
3 PRIME Centre Wales, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
4 Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Newport, UK.
5 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Funders
The Liver Disease Cymru Partnership (LDCP) receives a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR154876). This project was partly funded by an unrestricted grant from the Liver Disease Implementation Group, Welsh Government (LDIG-22-19).
Read the full paper here: Incidence rate and associated patient characteristics of liver disease in Wales 2004–2022: a retrospective population-scale observational study