To assess current digital twin (DT) applications in healthcare and personalized health management, and to identify potential future directions for their implementation in clinical contexts.
Approach:
Study Design: Conducted as a systematic review following Cochrane guidelines and PRISMA 2020 statement.
Search Strategy: Comprehensive search in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO until May 2025 using specific keywords related to digital twins and healthcare.
Study Selection: Two independent reviewers screened studies for inclusion based on specific criteria related to DT technology in healthcare.
Key Findings:
Digital twins enhance personalization, prediction, and precision in medical care.
Applications include chronic disease management, surgical planning, and rehabilitation.
DTs facilitate virtual testing of therapies and optimize recovery trajectories.
Interpretation:
Despite challenges in data integration and model fidelity, the transformative potential of digital twins in healthcare is significant.
Limitations:
Integration of DTs into clinical practice faces substantial challenges.
Previous reviews did not appraise the quality of primary studies or distinguish between different types of DT applications.
Conclusion:
The review highlights the need for a structured assessment of digital twin applications to support their clinical implementation.
