National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit
Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPEX) and survival after oesophagectomy
We are undertaking research using National Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Audit (NOGCA) data.
All adult patients with a diagnosis of oesophago-gastric (OG) cancer or oesophageal high grade dysplasia (HGD) in England and Wales may be included in NOGCA. Therefore, NOGCA contains a large amount of information about the care received by patients, which is a valuable source of information for researchers.
We are a research group consisting of NHS upper gastrointestinal surgeons, gastroenterologists, and statisticians undertaking a piece of research to see if a patient’s level of fitness before oesophageal surgery can predict their chances of survival after survival. To do this, we are analysing data from NOGCA between the dates 2012 to 2018 and linking this data with exercise testing information (cardiopulmonary exercise testing/CPEX) for the patients within NOGCA held by local hospitals.
The aim of this work is to see if we can find a fitness level at which patients are an increased risk of early postoperative death. If so, this may help inform exercise interventions (prehabilitation) before surgery to improve survival.
What data will we be using?
We will be using information about patients from NOGCA (e.g. age, gender, body mass index and medical problems) as well as details about the care they received (e.g. chemotherapy, surgery) and whether or not patients are still alive (vital status and date of death). In order to link patients with their exercise test information (CPEX) from their local hospital, we will be using NHS numbers as identifiers. These NHS numbers will be supplied by us to the care team who originally looked after the patient. At no time will personal data such as a patients name, address or date of birth be supplied to us by NOGCA. Nor will we be seeking to obtain this information at a later date. Once the NOGCA data is linked with local CPEX data, the NHS number will be dropped, thus fully anonymising the data.
Patient confidentiality
When publishing data, the study will report reports statistics at the group level (e.g. national, regional, or for a specific patient group), which do not allow individuals to be identified.
What if I do not want my information used in this study?
All patients have the right to object to the processing of their information for the purposes for this study. If you believe your data will be used in this study and you want to raise your objection please contact the study team either by email at:
or by post:
Mr Stephen Lam, Floor 2, Bob Champion Research and Educational Building, James Watson Road, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UQ.
Alternatively you can contact the NOGCA team who holds your data at:
You may also wish to refer to the NOGCA Privacy Notice, available at:
https://www.nogca.org.uk/content/uploads/2018/10/NOGCA_Privacy-notice_v3.2.pdf