'First-of-its-kind’ national Cardiovascular Disease Observatory launches
Our new interactive data and insights platform - the CVD Observatory - is set to provide the ‘clearest picture yet’ of the UK’s cardiovascular health.
The Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Observatory is the first data hub to bring together statistics, analysis, visualisations, and reports in one place to make it easier to find and understand the existing evidence about heart and circulatory diseases.
When data is fragmented, it is harder to see the full picture. Important trends can be missed, inequalities can remain hidden, and decisions on prevention or care can take longer than they should.
With more datasets and analysis to be added to the hub in the coming months, the long-term aim is that the platform can help focus attention where it’s needed most and inform evidence-led decisions that can make the greatest difference for patients.
At launch, the CVD Observatory contains various dashboards and insight articles. These include a national dashboard allowing users to easily compare CVD statistics, a map of where BHF’s research funding goes, and an interactive view of the 125,000 defibrillators registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network. We will add more data, analysis and insight in future, as more sources become available.
Our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Professor Bryan Williams
'Major step forward'
Professor Bryan Williams OBE, our Chief Scientific and Medical Officer, said: “The CVD Observatory is the first of its kind and a major step forward in how cardiovascular data and evidence are brought together and used to drive progress.
“Too often, the evidence needed to improve heart health sits in different places, in different formats, and is difficult to compare. The CVD Observatory gives us the clearest picture yet of UK heart health by cutting through the complexity and presenting trusted data in one easy-to-use platform.
“This is only the beginning. We hope it becomes an invaluable resource for those making clinical, research and policy decisions relating to cardiovascular health, or for anyone who wants a better understanding of cardiovascular disease in the UK.”
The CVD Observatory launched at an event at Glaziers Hall in London yesterday (3 November). The event brought together people working in research, healthcare, policy and data to consider how data insights can be used more effectively for people living with cardiovascular disease and those at risk of it.
They were given a first look at the platform, which contains interactive dashboards that allow users to explore key cardiovascular statistics covering mortality, prevalence, risk factors, hospital admissions and waiting times. Users can look beyond headline figures, and break down data by condition, age group, and sex, helping to build a clearer picture of where the burden of cardiovascular disease lies, and how it varies across the population.
Our Director of Health Insights Rony Arafin
Trusted data source
Cardiovascular disease does not affect every community in the same way. The CVD Observatory's local cardiovascular disease statistics dashboard allows users to select constituencies across the UK and explore a range of local measures.
The platform also brings together deeper analysis of important cardiovascular issues. This includes our 'Worlds Apart' analysis, which examines cardiovascular health through the lens of deprivation. These resources help users better understand the inequalities and patterns behind the statistics.
The CVD Observatory also provides an interactive view of where we fund cardiovascular research across the UK. From Belfast to London, users can explore research funding by geography and research topic, providing a clearer picture of the breadth of cardiovascular research supported by us.
Rony Arafin, our Director of Health Insights, said: “By bringing trusted data, analysis and research insight together in one place, the CVD Observatory gives us a much clearer view of where the burden of cardiovascular disease is greatest and where action is most needed.
“This is only the start. The long-term aim is for the CVD Observatory to become a one-stop-shop for policymakers, health professionals, researchers, and service leaders to help them make more informed decisions. This could ultimately lead to better heart health for everyone.”