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Version: 1.0.0 | Published: 24 Mar 2026 | Updated: 35 days ago

Trusted Research Environment for CVD-COVID-UK (Scotland)

Dataset

Summary

Description:
Linked routinely collected health datasets across the whole population of Scotland within a secure TRE provided by the National Safe Haven (https://publichealthscotland.scot/resources-and-tools/health-intelligence-and-data-management/electronic-data-research-and-innovation-service-edris/national-safe-haven-nsh/). These datasets are accessible to approved researchers who are members of the BHF Data Science Centre's CVD-COVID-UK consortium.
Access Tier:
Controlled
Contact Point:
bhfdsc@hdruk.ac.uk
Health Theme:
  • Health products, technologies, data & research
  • Immunization & vaccine-preventable diseases
  • Health systems, quality, care models & determinants
  • Life-course health: maternal, newborn, child, adolescent & ageing
  • Noncommunicable diseases – metabolic & cardiopulmonary
Health Category:
  • Data from medical registries and mortality registries
  • Data from clinical trials, clinical studies & clinical investigations
  • Data on factors impacting on health, including socio-economic, environmental & behavioural determinants of health
  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
  • Population-based health data registries (public health registries)
Number of Unique Individuals:
5411922

Documentation

Associated Media:
https://bhfdatasciencecentre.org/areas/cvd-covid-uk-covid-impact/
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2022.05.015
https://doi.org/10.1177/01410768221131897
https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjqcco/qcac077
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n826
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n898
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-02093-0
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02158-7
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjmed-2023-000760
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107155
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4972808
Documentation:
CVD-COVID-UK, co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Data Science Centre (https://bhfdatasciencecentre.org/), is one of the NIHR-BHF Cardiovascular Partnership’s National Flagship Projects. CVD-COVID-UK aims to understand the relationship between COVID-19 and cardiovascular diseases through analyses of de-identified, pseudonymised, linked, nationally collated health datasets across the four nations of the UK. The consortium has over 400 members across more than 50 institutions including data custodians, data scientists and clinicians, all of whom have signed up to an agreed set of principles with an inclusive, open and transparent ethos. Approved researchers access data within secure trusted/secure research environments (TREs/SDEs) provided by NHS England (England), the National Safe Haven (Scotland), the SAIL Databank (Wales) and the Honest Broker Service (Northern Ireland). A dashboard of datasets available in each nation’s TRE can be found here: https://bhfdatasciencecentre.org/areas/cvd-covid-uk-covid-impact/ This dataset represents the linked datasets for CVD-COVID-UK in the National Safe Haven for Scotland and contains the following datasets: • Outpatient Appointments and Attendances - Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR00) • General Acute Inpatient and Day Case - Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR01) • Scotland Accident and Emergency • COVID-19 Tests (lab/lighthouse testing) • SARS-CoV-2 viral sequencing data (COG-UK data) - Lineage/Variant Data - Scotland • Scottish Covid-19 Vaccination Data • National Records of Scotland (NRS) - Deaths Data • SICSAG Daily (Scottish Intensive Care Audit Group) • SICSAG Episodes (Scottish Intensive Care Audit Group) • Prescribing Information System (PIS) • Scottish Stroke Care Audit • Diabetes covariates • Scottish Renal Registry

Coverage

Spatial

Spatial Coverage:
Scotland

Temporal

Start Date:
01 January 1997
Frequency:
QUARTERLY
Date of First Release:
08 October 2024
Temporal Aggregation:
Other

Provenance

Origin

Purpose:
Care, Audit, Disease registry
Source:
Collection Situation:
  • Secondary care - Accident and Emergency
  • Secondary care - Outpatients
  • Secondary care - In-patients
  • Community
  • Prescribing - Community pharmacy
  • Secondary care - ICU
  • Prescribing - Hospital
Image Contrast:
Not stated
Quality Annotation:
https://bhfdatasciencecentre.org/dashboard/

Access and Governance

Usage

Data Use Requirements:
  • Project specific restriction
  • Publication required
  • User specific restriction
  • Time limit on use
  • Institution specific restriction
  • Collaboration required

Access

Access Rights:
https://bhfdatasciencecentre.org/areas/cvd-covid-uk-covid-impact/
Jurisdiction:
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Data Controller:
Public Health Scotland/National Records Scotland
Data Processor:
Public Health Scotland
Delivery Lead Time:
1-2 months
Legal Basis:
Research-specific restrictions
Health Data Access Body:
https://bhfdatasciencecentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CVD-COVID-UK-COVID-IMPACT-Acknowledgements-v1.4.pdf

Format and Standards

Language:
English
Format:
SQL database table
Conforms To:
NHS SCOTLAND DATA DICTIONARY
Coding System:
  • OPCS4
  • READ
  • OTHER
  • NHS SCOTLAND NATIONAL CODES
  • ICD10

Enrichment and Linkage

Tools:
https://healthdatagateway.org/en/tool/232

Data Distribution

Data Status:
Not available
Distribution:
Data is accessed within the Scottish National Safe Haven under the arrangements in place with the BHF Data Science Centre for CVD-COVID-UK

Observations

Name
Population Type
Value
Description
Variable Measured
Unit Code
Observation Date
Number of Records
Minimum Typical Age
Maximum Typical Age
Persons
5411922
Some datasets cover the estimated size of the population, although distinct counts over time may be in excess of this due to population turnover, population movement and in a very small proportion there may be duplication. https://bhfdsc.github.io/documentation/docs/dataset_overview/dataset_summary_table.
Distinct Count of IDs
12 December 2025
5411922
0
150

Origin

Name:
Data Catalogue
URL:
https://bm-dar-uat5-ui.metadata.works
Link:
https://bm-dar-uat5-ui.metadata.works/browser/dataset/40/0