Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare: Technologies, Applications, Challenges

A special issue of Future Internet (ISSN 1999-5903). This special issue belongs to the section "Internet of Things".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 2258

Special Issue Editors


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Institute of Computer Science, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch, 700011 Iasi, Romania
Interests: natural language processing; computational linguistics; web of linked data; content analysis; social media and health information; applied and computational statistics; integrated health informatics system; assisted decision systems; research ethics
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Guest Editor
Computational Bioscience Program, Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
Interests: spinal cord injury and regeneration; analysis of the speech of suicidal individuals; temporality in health records; information extraction from epilepsy clinic notes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various sectors, healthcare stands out as a field with immense potential for innovation and improvement. This Special Issue invites original contributions—algorithmic, methodological, empirical, or theoretical—that advance the broader context of health informatics. We aim to bring together practitioners, researchers, and scholars to share insights, examples, use cases, theories, and analyses related to biomedical data.

Submissions are encouraged to explore various dimensions of AI in healthcare, including but not limited to the theory, design, development, evaluation, or deployment of AI technologies. The primary goal of this Special Issue is to establish a respected, international forum for scientific research, emphasizing key areas such as interactive health technologies, advanced analytics, and the security and privacy of healthcare data.

Dr. Daniela Gîfu
Dr. Kevin Bretonnel Cohen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • interactive health technologies
  • natural language processing and text mining in healthcare
  • biomedical data analytics
  • big data in healthcare
  • visual analytics and decision-support systems
  • security and privacy in healthcare data
  • evaluation and validation of AI methods

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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33 pages, 2277 KB  
Article
Artificial Intelligence for Pneumonia Detection: A Federated Deep Learning Approach in Smart Healthcare
by Ana-Mihaela Vasilevschi, Călin-Alexandru Coman, Marilena Ianculescu and Oana Andreia Coman
Future Internet 2025, 17(12), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17120562 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 182
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an important role in driving innovation in smart healthcare by providing accurate, scalable, and privacy-preserving diagnostic options. Pneumonia is still a major global health issue, and early detection is key to improving patient outcomes. This study proposes a federated [...] Read more.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an important role in driving innovation in smart healthcare by providing accurate, scalable, and privacy-preserving diagnostic options. Pneumonia is still a major global health issue, and early detection is key to improving patient outcomes. This study proposes a federated deep learning (FL) approach for automatic pneumonia detection using chest X-ray images, considering both diagnostic efficacy and data privacy. Two models were developed and tested: a custom-developed convolutional neural network and a VGG16 transfer learning architecture. The framework evaluates diagnostic efficacy in both centralized and federated scenarios, taking into account heterogeneous client distributions and class imbalance. F1-score and accuracy values for the federated models indicate competitive levels, with F1-scores greater than 0.90 for pneumonia, being robust even when the data is not independent and identically distributed. Results confirm that FL could be tested as a privacy-preserving way to manage medical imaging and intelligence across distributed healthcare. This study provides a potential proof of concept of how to incorporate federated AI into smart healthcare and gives direction toward clinically tested and real-world applications. Full article
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Review

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29 pages, 2191 KB  
Review
IoT Applications and Challenges in Global Healthcare Systems: A Comprehensive Review
by Fadele Ayotunde Alaba, Alvaro Rocha, Hakeem Adewale Sulaimon and Owamoyo Najeem
Future Internet 2025, 17(12), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17120549 - 29 Nov 2025
Viewed by 416
Abstract
The Internet of Things (IoT) has influenced the healthcare industry by enabling real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and automation of medical activities. IoT in healthcare comprises a network of interconnected medical devices, sensors, and software systems that gather, analyse, and transmit patient data, enhancing [...] Read more.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has influenced the healthcare industry by enabling real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and automation of medical activities. IoT in healthcare comprises a network of interconnected medical devices, sensors, and software systems that gather, analyse, and transmit patient data, enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of healthcare services. Despite its benefits, the deployment and impact of IoT in healthcare vary between countries due to differences in healthcare infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and technical advancements. This review highlights how IoT technologies underpin the efficiency of EHR and HIE systems by enabling continuous data flow, interoperability, and real-time patient care. It also addresses the problems involved with IoT adoption, including data privacy concerns, interoperability issues, high implementation costs, and cybersecurity dangers. Additionally, the paper examines future trends in IoT healthcare, including 5G integration, AI-enhanced healthcare analytics, blockchain-based security solutions, and the creation of energy-efficient IoT medical equipment. Through an analysis of worldwide trends and obstacles, this research offers suggestions for policies, methods, and best practices to close the digital healthcare gap and make sure that healthcare solutions powered by the IoT are available, safe, and effective everywhere. Full article
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Other

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16 pages, 1392 KB  
Systematic Review
Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Facial Expression Analysis for Mental Health Assessment in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda
by Fernando M. Runzer-Colmenares, Nelson Luis Cahuapaza-Gutierrez, Cielo Cinthya Calderon-Hernandez and Christian Loret de Mola
Future Internet 2025, 17(12), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17120541 - 26 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Facial expression analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) represents an emerging approach for assessing mental health, particularly in neurocognitive disorders. This study encompassed observational investigations that assessed facial expressions in individuals aged 60 years and above. A comprehensive literature search was carried out across [...] Read more.
Facial expression analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) represents an emerging approach for assessing mental health, particularly in neurocognitive disorders. This study encompassed observational investigations that assessed facial expressions in individuals aged 60 years and above. A comprehensive literature search was carried out across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Risk of bias and study quality were assessed using the QUADAS-2 and CLAIM tools. Descriptive analysis and meta-analysis of proportions were performed using STATA version 19. The pooled effect size (ES) was calculated using a random-effects model (DerSimonian–Laird method), and results were presented with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Six studies were analyzed, comprising a total of 433 participants aged over 60 years, representing diverse AI applications in the detection of neurocognitive disorders. The disorders evaluated included mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (37.4%), dementia (29.3%), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (33.3%). Most studies (83.3%) used video-based facial recordings analyzed through deep learning algorithms and emotion recognition models. The pooled meta-analysis demonstrated that AI-based facial recognition algorithms achieved a high overall detection accuracy in older adults (ES = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.77–0.91), with the best performance observed in Alzheimer’s disease (ES = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89–0.97). AI-based facial analysis demonstrates high, robust, and non-invasive accuracy for the early and differential detection of neurocognitive disorders, including MCI, dementia-related conditions, and AD, in older adults. Full article
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