“Digital Twins: The Next Revolution in Healthcare?” (Preprint)

Abstract

A digital twin (DT) can be understood as a representation of a real asset, in other words, a virtual replica of a physical object, process or even a system. Virtual models, can integrate with all the latest technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Digital twins have applications in various sectors, ranging from manufacturing and engineering to healthcare. They have been used in managing healthcare facilities, streamlining care processes, personalizing treatments, and enhancing patient recovery. By analysing data from sensors and other sources, healthcare professionals can develop virtual models of patients, organs, and human systems, experimenting with various strategies to identify the most effective approach. This approach can lead to more targeted and efficient therapies while reducing the risk of collateral effects . Digital twin technology can also be used to generate a virtual replica of a hospital to review operational strategies, capabilities, personnel, and care models to identify areas for improvement, predict future challenges, and optimize organizational strategies. The potential impact of this tool on our society and its well-being is quite significant.

The objective of the article is to present a general overview of the use of digital twins in healthcare

With the aim of analysing and investigating the use of digital twins in health, a quick literature review was conducted on the topic in question using the following mesh terms: “digital twins”, “digital health”, and “health care”. Another filter applied in the search strategy was publications within a time range of up to 5 years (2018 to 2023). The search was conducted in six academic databases: IEEE Xplore, Dimensions, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and ACM. After applying the search strings and the exclusion criteria, a total of 58 publications were identified. The exclusion criteria described in the article were applied, resulting in 13 publications listed to constitute and support the discussion of this article.

The selected studies can be categorized according to the application of digital twins in the health sector into 2 groups: the clinical applications group, with 7 records, and the operational applications group, with 6 records. In the clinical applications group, five articles focused on the theme of personalized care/precision medicine, one related to the reproduction of biological structures and one focused on ethics issues related to the use of DTs in healthcare. In the operational applications group, we have a subgroup, with five articles that discuss the application of digital twins supporting the optimization of operational processes and another subgroup with one article that relies on the construction of virtual structures such as a hospital.

The use of digital twins, in process optimization and healthcare, presents important challenges related to data integration, privacy and interoperability. However, trends indicate exciting potential in personalizing treatment, prevention, remote monitoring, informed decision-making, and process management, which can result in significant improvements in quality and efficiency in healthcare. This work could, in some way, contribute to expanding discussions on the topic, opening space for new reflections. More in-depth future studies should be carried out to explore the possible consolidation of the use of digital twins in health, especially in processes linked to health care and primary health care, or even clarify which initiatives should be implemented or even strengthened to sustain the progress achieved thus far.

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