There is limited information describing the different ways people who have COVID-19 are managed. Different people have different treatments, sometimes no treatment at all. It is not known if outcomes (death or re-hospitalisation or other complications) vary depending upon how people are managed.
The aim of this study is to first describe the number and population structure (e.g. age, sex, region, ethnicity and socioeconomic status) of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in England. We will then describe trends in treatments, healthcare utilisation and disease outcomes such as death and hospital admissions over the same time period. We will take a closer look at people considered to be at high risk of poor outcomes, COVID-19 vaccination status, and specifically people who have a weakened immune system.
COVID-19 remains a problem and there have been multiple changes in management and severity over time. This work will help us to summarise how changes in treatment, including vaccination have changed over time and how this has impacted outcomes. We will add value to these data, sharing clinical and data expertise.
Our results will provide insights into how different groups of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 are treated and how their outcomes differ. This knowledge will play a crucial role in public health planning by finding patient groups that may benefit more from specific treatments. Our work could be used to develop risk models that healthcare providers and policy makers can use to make more informed decisions about the nature of COVID-19 treatment.