The potential to integrate ubiquitous computing, sensor technologies and bidirectional digital communication into the practice of cardiology may be key to enhancing cardiovascular prevention and treatment for individuals and groups of patients, according to a state-of-the-art review published Dec. 17 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Robert M. Califf, MD, MACC, explains that while there have been advances in computational and information technologies, improvements in outcomes, quality and cost of cardiovascular medicine at the individual and population levels from these advances have lagged expectations.

He notes that clinical care and research enterprises are in the midst of assimilating changes entrained by a "fourth industrial revolution" marked by the convergence of biology, physical sciences and information science. Califf adds that these changes, if managed appropriately, may enable cost-effective, personalized medical care as well as more effective and targeted population health interventions.

Furthermore, he explains that the powerful influence of computing and bidirectional digital communication not only increases the reach of interventions, but also has the potential to significantly lower the costs and improve the speed of learning about which approaches are most effective.

"As we adapt culturally to this major change in digital power, we can envision a clinical and public-health approach that will be much more effective and convenient – one that provides personalized care and population health improvement at a lower cost, with improved quality of life for both people and their clinicians," Califf concludes.

Califf presented the 2017 Paul Dudley White Lecture during last year's ACC New York Cardiovascular Symposium. For more information from this year's meeting, check out ACC's Facebook live page, follow #NYCVS on Twitter, and read the article "Childhood Intervention Key to Lifelong Heart Health."

Keywords: Public Health, Quality of Life

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