Smart traditional Chinese medicine empowers the whole chain of “prevention–screening–diagnosis–treatment–management” for major chronic diseases in primary healthcare: Research on cardiovascular–cerebrovascular diseases and tumors
10.1097/st9.0000000000000095
- Author:
Xiaoyu ZHANG
1
;
Jianlin WEI
2
;
Yuqi LIANG
3
;
Liangzhen YOU
3
;
Mei ZHANG
4
;
Hongcai SHANG
5
Author Information
1. Institute of Clinical Basic Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
2. Institute of Clinical Basic Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China; Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
3. Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Smart TCM for Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
4. School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
5. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China; Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Smart TCM for Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China; Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Artificial intelligence;
Chronic disease management;
Primary healthcare;
Smart TCM;
Technology application
- From:
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;4(2):132-139
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Driven by policy initiatives promoting the integration of digital-intelligent technologies with primary healthcare and the digital transformation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Smart TCM has emerged as a pivotal strategy for enhancing primary healthcare services for major chronic diseases. This paper reviews the current status, challenges, and feasible pathways of Smart TCM in community-level management of cardiovascular–cerebrovascular diseases and tumors, which represent major chronic disease burdens. Our findings indicate that Smart TCM demonstrates emerging potential in primary healthcare for chronic diseases across the entire continuum of “prevention-screening-diagnosis-treatment-management.” However, several significant challenges persist, including data silos and security vulnerabilities, limited applicability of existing models to real-world clinical needs, and insufficient digital literacy among primary healthcare physicians and elderly patients. To address these constraints, this paper proposes a multidimensional strategy encompassing the development of secure and interoperable regional data platforms, lightweight intelligent devices and support services aligned with primary care capacity, unified technical and data standards with corresponding quality control systems, adaptive and dynamically updated artificial intelligent models, interdisciplinary workforce training and patient education programs, and enhanced policy and health insurance support. Overall, Smart TCM shows great promise for improving the efficiency of primary healthcare delivery and establishing innovative TCM-based chronic disease management paradigms.
