Cohort Profile: Longitudinal population-based study of COVID-19 in UK adults (COVIDENCE UK)

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is estimated to have caused more than 18 million deaths worldwide as of end-May 2022. Methods: COVIDENCE UK is a longitudinal population-based study that investigates risk factors for, and impacts of, COVID-19 in UK residents aged ≥16 years. A unique feature is the capacity to support trial-within-cohort studies to evaluate interventions for prevention of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory illnesses. Participants complete a detailed online baseline questionnaire capturing self-reported information relating to their socio-demographic characteristics, occupation, lifestyle, quality of life, weight, height, longstanding medical conditions, medication use, vaccination status, diet and supplemental micronutrient intake. Follow-up on-line questionnaires capturing incident symptoms of COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections, incident swab test-confirmed COVID-19, doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine received, and quality of life are completed at monthly intervals. Results: The study was launched on 1st May 2020 and closed to recruitment on 6th October 2021. A total of 19,981 participants enrolled and consented to 5-year follow-up with medical record linkage. Their mean age was 59.1 years (range 16.0 to 94.4 years), 70.2% were female, and 93.7% identified their ethnic origin as White. Analyses conducted to date have provided key insights into risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease, determinants of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy, and impacts of COVID-19 on health economic outcomes. The cohort has also supported conduct of a Phase 3 randomised trial-within-cohort study (CORONAVIT) evaluating implementation of a test-and-treat approach to correcting sub-optimal vitamin D status on incidence and severity of acute respiratory infections, including COVID-19. Conclusions: The COVIDENCE UK dataset represents a valuable resource containing granular information on factors influencing susceptibility to, and impacts of, COVID-19 in UK adults. Researchers wishing to access anonymised participant-level data should contacting the corresponding author for further information.

Effect of a test-and-treat approach to vitamin D supplementation on risk of all cause acute respiratory tract infection and covid-19: phase 3 randomised controlled trial (CORONAVIT)

“…The study was launched on 1 May 2020 and closed to recruitment on 6 October 2021; a total of 19 981 participants enrolled. 26 …”

“…COVIDENCE UK was established to determine risk factors for incident covid-19,1213 characterise the clinical course of the disease, evaluate impacts of covid-19 on physical and mental health and economic vulnerability,25 and provide a platform from which to conduct clinical trials of interventions to reduce the incidence and severity of acute respiratory tract infections. The study was launched on 1 May 2020 and closed to recruitment on 6 October 2021; a total of 19 981 participants enrolled 26…”

Determinants of humoral and cellular immune responses to three doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in older adults: a longitudinal cohort study

“…As many countries are facing ageing populations, longitudinal studies on the effects of ageing have been established to improve the health-care needs in older adults 14 and assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. 4 , 15 , 16 However, few countries, if any, combine epidemiological data on comorbidities, frailty, function, and lifestyle factors with sequential in-depth immunological data to explore the effects of infection and vaccination.…”

Influence of vitamin D supplementation on SARS-CoV-2 vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity

“…Sub-study 1 (vaccine efficacy analysis) investigated the influence Full details relating to the design and conduct of the CORONAVIT trial and postvaccination serology studies have been reported elsewhere [17,21]. Briefly, 6200 UK residents aged 16 years or older and participating in the COVIDENCE UK study [23] were individually randomised to receive an offer of a postal vitamin D test, followed by higher-dose (3200 IU/day; n=1550) or lower-dose (800 IU/day; n=1550) vitamin D supplementation if their blood 25(OH)D concentration was found to be less than 75 nmol/L, or to receive no offer of vitamin D testing or supplementation (n=3100), with a 1:1:2 allocation ratio. Treatment allocation was not concealed, and randomisation was not stratified.…”