Kids' Environment and Health Cohort: Database Protocol: supplementary appendix

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pediatric Epidemiology
• Public Health Data Linkage

Background:

• Children's health and educational outcomes are significantly influenced by environmental exposures.
• Existing UK datasets lack comprehensive longitudinal data linking children's environments to their health and education.
• Susceptibility to environmental impacts is higher in children due to increased time spent in local environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the Kids' Environment and Health Cohort, a national, longitudinal dataset for England.
• To create a research-ready, de-identified, and annually updated birth cohort.
• To enable research on the impact of environmental factors on child development.

Main Methods:

• Linking birth, mortality, health, and educational attainment records for children born in England from 2006 onwards.
• Integrating maternal health data and environmental data.
• Utilizing a trusted research environment (TRE) at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for secure data access and management.

Main Results:

• The Kids' Environment and Health Cohort will include approximately 11 million children at its initial build.
• Specific subsets will be linked to Census records for detailed demographic and environmental context.
• Secure data handling protocols, including encryption of geographical identifiers, will be implemented.

Conclusions:

• This cohort provides an unprecedented national-level linkage of administrative health and education data with longitudinal environmental exposures for children in England.
• It will serve as a vital resource for understanding how home and school environments impact children's health and well-being.
• Facilitates evidence-based policy and interventions to improve child health outcomes.