Since baseline recruitment completion, we have worked to link our data to health records and this has helped to greatly extend our data resources. This section details our current data as well as potential future data linkage. We aim to provide data that is both detailed and accurate. Data linkage plays a key role in maximising the value of Generation Scotland’s research data and can help to raise new research questions or to replicate current findings. It also allows continued follow-up of our participants without requiring re-contact. Our linkage uses the Community Health Index (CHI), which is Scotland’s health care population register. The CHI register is the key to all patient data collected by the NHS in Scotland, which we can now link to our current participants who have given consent. Below is a bar chart detailing our current linkage and planned future linkage: Image SMR00 Out-patients SMR01 In-patients SMR02 Maternity SMR06 Cancer Registry SMR04 Mental Health Died Mortality (NRS) Presc Prescriptions dispensed Dental NHS Dentistry Lab SCI Store lab tests GP Primary care data We have now linked data from SCI Store routine NHS lab tests from Tayside, Glasgow, and Grampian area health boards. We are currently working with Albasoft to extract primary care data from GP practices throughout Scotland. The governance and consent issues are complex, but we are collaborating with UK Biobank and SHARE to resolve them. You might also be interested in: Our Access Process Our Access Policy Research Publications This article was published on 2024-05-06
