The current pandemic is having a profound impact worldwide, especially in specialities such as vascular surgery, where both elective and emergency services have been forced to adapt. Many vascular patients are at high risk of COVID-19 mortality, and balancing risk of exposure to the virus with treatment of their underlying vascular pathology, has been a challenge.

A group of researchers from the School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, led by Prakash Saha, have been working to understand and evaluate the effect the pandemic is having on vascular service provision, practice and patient outcomes across 53 countries.

Over 150 researchers are involved in the study, including those from the Vascular Endovascular Research Network, a multidisciplinary collaborative for those interested in the care of individuals with vascular conditions.

The COVID-19 Vascular Service Study (COVER) opened at the end of March when the pandemic was at its most critical point. Centres who choose to take part are encouraged to fill the survey weekly so the team can gain a picture of changes to services.

The research is divided into three tiers:

1. Changes to unit level processes

This stage involves regular repeated team surveys to capture changes to the structure and delivery of services at a unit level through the pandemic – e.g. changes in surgery, deployment of team members to other specialities, availability of personal protective equipment.

1. Procedural data capture

This stage involves three months of data capture on all vascular and endovascular interventions undertaken at a unit level throughout the pandemic – e.g. surgical outcomes of patients. Following up at six and 12 months will link changes in practice to condition specific morbidity and mortality.

1. Changes to vascular care

This stage involves one month of data capture to identify how management of vascular cases has changed throughout the pandemic and what new types of presentations patients are coming to the units with – e.g. skin conditions, blockages. Following up at six and 12 months will present outcomes for patients who would normally have undergone a surgical procedure prior to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The team has found that there is a clear appetite among healthcare providers, policymakers, governments, and major international institutions for research around the pandemic, and it is anticipated that COVER will go some way towards understanding vascular patient outcomes.

Find out more about the study.