本文主要关注大数据分析对改善健康、预防和检测早期疾病以及个性化干预措施的潜在影响，讨论了大数据分析在建立患者电子健康档案以获得更好的临床决策支持中的可能作用。笔者研究了药物遗传学的发展，以更好地理解患者对化学疗法产生不同反应的原因。此外，笔者评估了在线健康交流的发展， 以及如何利用这些数据检测公共健康威胁和控制传染病。最后， 笔者描述了新一代可穿戴和可植入的躯体传感器如何改善身体状况、简化慢性病管理和提高外科植入物质量。

This article focuses on the potential impact of big data analysis to improve health, prevent and detect disease at an earlier stage, and personalize interventions. The role that big data analytics may have in interrogating the patient electronic health record toward improved clinical decision support is discussed. We examine developments in pharmacogenetics that have increased our appreciation of the reasons why patients respond differently to chemotherapy. We also assess the expansion of online health communications and the way in which this data may be capitalized on in order to detect public health threats and control or contain epidemics. Finally, we describe how a new generation of wearable and implantable body sensors may improve wellbeing, streamline management of chronic diseases, and improve the quality of surgical implants.