Artificial intelligence applications used in the clinical response to COVID-19: A scoping review.
Sean MannCarl T BerdahlLawrence BakerFederico GirosiPublished in: PLOS digital health (2022)
Research into using artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is growing and several observers predicted that AI would play a key role in the clinical response to the COVID-19. Many AI models have been proposed though previous reviews have identified only a few applications used in clinical practice. In this study, we aim to (1) identify and characterize AI applications used in the clinical response to COVID-19; (2) examine the timing, location, and extent of their use; (3) examine how they relate to pre-pandemic applications and the U.S. regulatory approval process; and (4) characterize the evidence that is available to support their use. We searched academic and grey literature sources to identify 66 AI applications that performed a wide range of diagnostic, prognostic, and triage functions in the clinical response to COVID-19. Many were deployed early in the pandemic and most were used in the U.S., other high-income countries, or China. While some applications were used to care for hundreds of thousands of patients, others were used to an unknown or limited extent. We found studies supporting the use of 39 applications, though few of these were independent evaluations and we found no clinical trials evaluating any application's impact on patient health. Due to limited evidence, it is impossible to determine the extent to which the clinical use of AI in the pandemic response has benefited patients overall. Further research is needed, particularly independent evaluations on AI application performance and health impacts in real-world care settings.
Keyphrases
- artificial intelligence
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- machine learning
- healthcare
- big data
- deep learning
- clinical trial
- end stage renal disease
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- emergency department
- public health
- clinical practice
- mental health
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- randomized controlled trial
- social media
- pain management
- health information
- palliative care
- open label
- patient reported outcomes
- human health
- patient reported
- phase ii
- chronic pain
- drinking water
- climate change
- health insurance
- placebo controlled
- affordable care act