World’s biggest appendicitis study gives insight into emergency healthcare
Study will collect data from over 2,000 hospitals in 135 countries - identifying areas for strengthening emergency care systems globally.
World’s biggest appendicitis study gives insight into emergency healthcare
University of Birmingham experts are enlisting the help of medics across the globe to investigate the effectiveness of health systems by studying the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis.
The Appendicitis Global Outcomes Study (AlliGatOr) will collect data on patients undergoing appendicectomy for suspected appendicitis from over 2,000 hospitals in 135 countries. The aim is to identify areas for strengthening emergency care systems globally.
The new trainee-led, collaborative cohort study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and managed by the team behind the successful delivery of the NIHR-funded GlobalSurg, COVIDSurg, HIPPO, and GECKO studies.
Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies worldwide. The presentation and management of this condition offer a valuable benchmark for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency healthcare systems.
Project lead Mr Theophilus Teddy Kojo Anyomih, from the University of Birmingham, commented: “Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical emergencies worldwide. The presentation and management of this condition offer a valuable benchmark for evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency healthcare systems.
“The AlliGatOr study aims to generate detailed data on the global variability in the management and outcomes of appendicectomy. The world’s biggest appendicitis study, it will provide critical insights into access to emergency care, imaging techniques, and the use of minimally invasive surgery.
“The findings will inform policy recommendations for both high- and low- to middle-income countries, contributing to improved healthcare delivery and patient outcomes worldwide. We encourage all interested healthcare professionals, surgeons, scientists, and academics to get involved in this exciting and important study.”
Hospital teams, consisting of up to three collaborators, will gather data over 14-day periods, with patients followed up at 30 days to collect outcome data. Researchers will use this information to assess global emergency system performance.
No changes will be made to routine patient care pathways or management as part of the observational study, which runs alongside two optional sub-studies exploring waste management and financing models.
The AlliGatOr study will provide critical insights into access to emergency care, imaging techniques, and the use of minimally invasive surgery. These findings will inform policy recommendations for both high- and low- to middle-income countries, contributing to improved healthcare delivery and patient outcomes worldwide.
Study leaders are still recruiting hospital leads and co-leads globally - with ample opportunities for institutions to participate in this ground breaking research. Discover how to join as a hospital lead or co-lead.
Notes for editors
Notes for editors
For more information, please contact Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0)121 414 2772.
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries.
Countries signed up to the study: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo Dem. Rep., Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong SAR - China, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran Islamic Rep., Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea Rep., Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen Rep., Zambia, Zimbabwe.
About the National Institute for Health and Care Research
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
- Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
- Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
- Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
- Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
- Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system; and
- Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.
NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.