Big data analyses and individual health profiling in the arena of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs)

Abstract

Health care processes are under constant development and will need to embrace advances in technology and health science aiming to provide optimal care. Considering the perspective of increasing treatment options for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, but in many cases not reaching all treatment targets that matter to patients, care systems bare potential to improve on a holistic level. This review provides an overview of systems and technologies under evaluation over the past years that show potential to impact diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases in about 10 years from now. We summarize initiatives and studies from the field of electronic health records, biobanking, remote monitoring, and artificial intelligence. The combination and implementation of these opportunities in daily clinical care will be key for a new era in care of our patients. This aims to inform rheumatologists and healthcare providers concerned with chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions about current important and promising developments in science that might substantially impact the management processes of rheumatic diseases in the 2030s.

Empowering rheumatology through digital health technologies: contributions and barriers

“…The emergence of big data and big data analytics in rheumatology seems extremely promising, especially as it is a necessary step towards precision medicine. AI can help rheumatologists make accurate diagnoses and take appropriate treatment decisions [16]. These apps, such as machine learning algorithms, can analyze medical images, laboratory results and patient records to provide information and support evidence-based decision-making [16].…”

“…AI can help rheumatologists make accurate diagnoses and take appropriate treatment decisions [16]. These apps, such as machine learning algorithms, can analyze medical images, laboratory results and patient records to provide information and support evidence-based decision-making [16]. The ability of AI to process multidimensional data and discover data associations and combinations can be beneficial in complex chronic diseases, such as RMDs, due to the high heterogeneity of patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes.…”

Understanding the role and adoption of artificial intelligence techniques in rheumatology research: an in-depth review of the literature

“…Other authors addressed the use of three specific ML algorithms including logistic regression, in the diagnosis of rheumatic illnesses [41]. Another review, published in the middle of the year, discussed recent technologies and innovations that are expected to benefit clinical practice in the early 2030s, with regard to big data [42]. A narrative review of ML in RMDs for clinicians and researchers was published by Nelson AE et al [43].…”

The acknowledgment of the treatment burden in the disease burden

“…Health-care innovations using nurse-led clinics, an integrated role of general practitioners and mobile health (mHealth) applications could be pivotal in improving the patient experience of daily clinical practice. Many believe that future rheumatology will be different from current standards [ 6 ]. Technical innovations, such at home monitoring of blood parameters, could also alleviate patient burden [ 7 ].…”