This research project from King’s College London will explore whether the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), one of the world largest electronic databases including over 60 million anonymised records from primary care, can be used to improve understanding of the health needs of veterans who access their GP.

The research will test the feasibility and utility of the CPRD, and the clinical and research opportunities afforded by its use. The research team, led by Dr Sharon Stevelink, will assess the potential use of CPRD to advance understanding about veterans physical and mental health profiles and the data challenges of capturing and meeting their needs from primary care onwards.

The project, in collaboration with the Imperial College London, will take place over 18 months from November 2022. The researchers hope to be able to explore the long-term mental and physical health outcomes of veterans within the UK healthcare system.