Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical Implications

Healthcare data rapidly increases, and patients seek customized, effective healthcare services. Big data and machine learning (ML) enabled smart healthcare systems hold revolutionary potential. Unlike previous reviews that separately address AI or big data, this work synthesizes their convergence th...

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Main Authors: Sita Rani, Raman Kumar, B. S. Panda, Rajender Kumar, Nafaa Farhan Muften, Mayada Ahmed Abass, Jasmina Lozanović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/15/1914
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author Sita Rani
Raman Kumar
B. S. Panda
Rajender Kumar
Nafaa Farhan Muften
Mayada Ahmed Abass
Jasmina Lozanović
author_facet Sita Rani
Raman Kumar
B. S. Panda
Rajender Kumar
Nafaa Farhan Muften
Mayada Ahmed Abass
Jasmina Lozanović
author_sort Sita Rani
collection DOAJ
description Healthcare data rapidly increases, and patients seek customized, effective healthcare services. Big data and machine learning (ML) enabled smart healthcare systems hold revolutionary potential. Unlike previous reviews that separately address AI or big data, this work synthesizes their convergence through real-world case studies, cross-domain ML applications, and a critical discussion on ethical integration in smart diagnostics. The review focuses on the role of big data analysis and ML towards better diagnosis, improved efficiency of operations, and individualized care for patients. It explores the principal challenges of data heterogeneity, privacy, computational complexity, and advanced methods such as federated learning (FL) and edge computing. Applications in real-world settings, such as disease prediction, medical imaging, drug discovery, and remote monitoring, illustrate how ML methods, such as deep learning (DL) and natural language processing (NLP), enhance clinical decision-making. A comparison of ML models highlights their value in dealing with large and heterogeneous healthcare datasets. In addition, the use of nascent technologies such as wearables and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is examined for their role in supporting real-time data-driven delivery of healthcare. The paper emphasizes the pragmatic application of intelligent systems by highlighting case studies that reflect up to 95% diagnostic accuracy and cost savings. The review ends with future directions that seek to develop scalable, ethical, and interpretable AI-powered healthcare systems. It bridges the gap between ML algorithms and smart diagnostics, offering critical perspectives for clinicians, data scientists, and policymakers.
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spelling doaj-art-fe6f07a99b8d44b5971864888b66e3e62025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-07-011515191410.3390/diagnostics15151914Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical ImplicationsSita Rani0Raman Kumar1B. S. Panda2Rajender Kumar3Nafaa Farhan Muften4Mayada Ahmed Abass5Jasmina Lozanović6Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana 141006, Punjab, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana 141006, Punjab, IndiaDepartment of CSE, Raghu Engineering College, Visakhapatnam 531162, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Clement Town, Dehradun 248002, Uttarakhand, IndiaDepartment of Medical Laboratories Technology, Mazaya University College, Nasiriyah 64001, IraqCollege of Pharmacy, Al-Mustaqbal University, Babylon 51001, IraqDepartment of Engineering, FH Campus Wien, University of Applied Sciences, Favoritenstraße 226, 1100 Vienna, AustriaHealthcare data rapidly increases, and patients seek customized, effective healthcare services. Big data and machine learning (ML) enabled smart healthcare systems hold revolutionary potential. Unlike previous reviews that separately address AI or big data, this work synthesizes their convergence through real-world case studies, cross-domain ML applications, and a critical discussion on ethical integration in smart diagnostics. The review focuses on the role of big data analysis and ML towards better diagnosis, improved efficiency of operations, and individualized care for patients. It explores the principal challenges of data heterogeneity, privacy, computational complexity, and advanced methods such as federated learning (FL) and edge computing. Applications in real-world settings, such as disease prediction, medical imaging, drug discovery, and remote monitoring, illustrate how ML methods, such as deep learning (DL) and natural language processing (NLP), enhance clinical decision-making. A comparison of ML models highlights their value in dealing with large and heterogeneous healthcare datasets. In addition, the use of nascent technologies such as wearables and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is examined for their role in supporting real-time data-driven delivery of healthcare. The paper emphasizes the pragmatic application of intelligent systems by highlighting case studies that reflect up to 95% diagnostic accuracy and cost savings. The review ends with future directions that seek to develop scalable, ethical, and interpretable AI-powered healthcare systems. It bridges the gap between ML algorithms and smart diagnostics, offering critical perspectives for clinicians, data scientists, and policymakers.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/15/1914smart healthcare systemssmart diagnosticsartificial intelligencemachine learningbig dataelectronic health records (EHRs)
spellingShingle Sita Rani
Raman Kumar
B. S. Panda
Rajender Kumar
Nafaa Farhan Muften
Mayada Ahmed Abass
Jasmina Lozanović
Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical Implications
Diagnostics
smart healthcare systems
smart diagnostics
artificial intelligence
machine learning
big data
electronic health records (EHRs)
title Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical Implications
title_full Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical Implications
title_fullStr Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical Implications
title_full_unstemmed Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical Implications
title_short Machine Learning-Powered Smart Healthcare Systems in the Era of Big Data: Applications, Diagnostic Insights, Challenges, and Ethical Implications
title_sort machine learning powered smart healthcare systems in the era of big data applications diagnostic insights challenges and ethical implications
topic smart healthcare systems
smart diagnostics
artificial intelligence
machine learning
big data
electronic health records (EHRs)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/15/1914
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