Background: The prevalence of multimorbidity – diagnosed with 2 or more chronic diseases – is expected to rise due to an aging population and the epidemiological shift resulting in an increase of chronic diseases in our society. This is proving to be a major challenge because of the complexity in the management of care as well as the increased burden on the healthcare system and associated expenditures. It is imperative to account for the impact that upstream factors, such as the social determinants of health, have on the quality of life and association with increased morbidity from chronic diseases. Methods: A search through databases and websites was conducted for journal articles, grey literature, and white papers to identify the current landscape at the intersection of big data, public health, and artificial intelligence (AI). Results: Advancements in technology enable us to utilize information from various sources including electronic health records, genomic data, social media, wearable devices, government records and more to holistically treat and manage patients. New innovations allow us to leverage data and technology to address health inequities and improve patient outcomes through AI applications. Potential areas of impact for big data in public health include the development of upstream preventions and interventions by implementing downstream machine learning and AI-based technological change, which include clinical decision support, predictive modelling, early disease detection, coordinated care, etc. Discussion: Although the potential for this new technology is very exciting, the literature surrounding the ethics of its use are sparse, which can pose issues related to privacy, security, and even bias. Practical guidelines and solutions are lacking in this area and stakeholders – including patients, health care providers, government agencies, academic researchers, and private sector companies – must come together to create frameworks for the implementation of practical solutions to address these issues. By: Tanya Jain, Level IV Medical Sciences Student at Wester University
- Tanya Jain