START DATE AND DURATION: September 2020This study is evaluating existing service models for older patients across diverse settings for a range of outcomes. It will adopt comparable approaches using realist evaluation, incorporating mainly quantitative data (and some qualitative data) leading to an economic evaluation.
The study is undertaking health services evaluation in a uniquely integrated dataset offered by the Delirium and Population Health Informatics Cohort (DELPHIC) - a cohort of 1500 active patients over 70 years old. This will look at the same individuals across primary, secondary, mental health and social care.
We are also using data from this cohort to better understand the transmission and prognosis of COVID-19 in older people. We are using the data to ascertain weekly symptoms (for diagnosis), acquire samples and to follow COVID-19 cases as their illness evolves.
Data and clinical samples are now being collected to identify immunological pathways underlying differences in elderly peoples’ response to the virus. This part of the work is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Wellcome Trust, Rosetrees Trust and the NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
