Big data in healthcare refers to the large-scale collection, integration, and analysis of diverse health-related data from electronic health records (EHRs), wearable devices, imaging systems, genomics, clinical trials, and patient-reported outcomes. Leveraging big data enables healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers to identify trends, optimize care, and predict disease progression. Predictive analytics supports early detection, population health management, and resource allocation for hospitals and clinics.

Applications include precision medicine, epidemiology, hospital workflow optimization, chronic disease management, and risk stratification. Integration with artificial intelligence and machine learning facilitates pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and clinical decision support. Patient-centric insights allow personalized treatment plans, adherence tracking, and real-time monitoring through mobile and wearable technologies.

Challenges involve data privacy, interoperability, storage, and analysis complexity. Compliance with standards such as HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO regulations is critical. Future trends include federated learning, cloud-based analytics, integration with telemedicine, and AI-driven diagnostics. Big data enables a shift toward…