Total number of studies involving adults without capacity to consent 2018 to 2024 graph - long description

Last updated on 24 Mar 2025

A line graph showing the total number of studies involving adults without capacity to consent between 2018 and 2024.

On one axis is the number of studies, on the other is the year. The graph shows two lines of data, both following the same trend, peaking in 2020 before falling off each subsequent year to a low in 2024.

A blue line shows studies involving adults without capacity to consent receiving a final opinion from a REC (UK wide). Starting at 293 in 2018 the number rises slightly to 299 in 2019, before sharply rising to a peak of 369 in 2020. From there the line drops to 270 in 2021 and 272 in 2022 before reaching a low of 217 in 2024.

A yellow line shows studies involving adults without capacity to consent receiving HRA and HCRW Approval. Following the same trend the line starts at 187 in 2018, rising slightly to 200 in 2019 before sharply rising to a peak of 264 in 2020. From there the line drops to 188 in 2021 and 191 in 2022 before reaching a low of 143 in 2024.

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