Approved Research

Understanding the Impact of Medications and Lifestyle on Chronic Disease Populations

Lay summary

Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, respiratory diseases, cancer, skin diseases, and mental illness, are major contributors to the global health burden. This 3-year project aims to use the rich health data of the UK Biobank to ensure the utilization, effectiveness, and safety of medications. The project will also examine the influence of lifestyle factors and further investigate the complex and interactive impact of medication use and lifestyle factors on clinical/disease-related outcomes, disease progression, and mortality in patients with chronic diseases in the real world. The relevant findings will provide valuable evidence to enhance the understanding of interactions between medicine and lifestyle, improve drug safety, and discover effective preventive strategies and personalized treatments for chronic diseases.