Sussex Integrated Dataset (SID) Data Resource Profile

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Public Health Data Resources
• Integrated Health and Social Care Data

Background:

• The Sussex Integrated Dataset (SID) comprises linked National Health Service (NHS) and adult social care data for approximately 1.7 million patients in coastal Southeast England.
• The region's population is characterized by a higher proportion of elderly individuals, significant deprivation disparities, a large LGBTQ+ community, and a substantial HIV cohort.
• Established in 2019, SID integrates data from all NHS providers and local authority social care services across East and West Sussex and Brighton and Hove.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a comprehensive data resource profile of the Sussex Integrated Dataset (SID).
• To highlight the dataset's scope, data sources, and unique population characteristics.
• To inform potential users about the availability and utility of SID for research and innovation.

Main Methods:

• Linking routinely collected data from diverse NHS providers (hospitals, general practitioners, community and mental health trusts, ambulance services) and local authority social care services.
• Implementing rigorous data quality monitoring and harmonizing demographic information into a "demographic milestones" table.
• Utilizing a "semantic layer" to curate patient cohorts with common long-term conditions.

Main Results:

• SID provides a rich, linked dataset covering approximately 1.7 million patients, with data generally available from 2017 (GP data up to 20 years).
• The dataset captures comprehensive health and social care information, including unique demographic and clinical characteristics of the Sussex population.
• Data quality is actively managed, ensuring a reliable resource for analysis.

Conclusions:

• The Sussex Integrated Dataset (SID) represents a significant, high-quality linked data resource for public health, service evaluation, and research.
• SID's unique population characteristics and comprehensive data coverage offer valuable opportunities for health research and innovation.
• Access to SID through the NHS Secure Data Environment Network facilitates wider utilization for improving health and social care outcomes.