title: Towards personalised management of atherosclerosis via computational models in vascular clinics: technology based on patient-specific simulation approach.
abstract: The development of a new technology based on patient-specific modelling for personalised healthcare in the case of atherosclerosis is presented. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of death in the world and it has become a burden on clinical services as it manifests itself in many diverse forms, such as coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease/stroke and peripheral arterial disease. It is also a multifactorial, chronic and systemic process that lasts for a lifetime, putting enormous financial and clinical pressure on national health systems. In this Letter, the postulate is that the development of new technologies for healthcare using computer simulations can, in the future, be developed as in-silico management and support systems. These new technologies will be based on predictive models (including the integration of observations, theories and predictions across a range of temporal and spatial scales, scientific disciplines, key risk factors and anatomical sub-systems) combined with digital patient data and visualisation tools. Although the problem is extremely complex, a simulation workflow and an exemplar application of this type of technology for clinical use is presented, which is currently being developed by a multidisciplinary team following the requirements and constraints of the Vascular Service Unit at the University College Hospital, London.
authors.affiliation: UCL Mechanical Engineering , University College London , Multiscale Cardiovascular Engineering Group , Torrington Place , London , WC1E 7JE , UK.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Díaz-Zuccarini
authors.affiliation: UCL Mechanical Engineering , University College London , Multiscale Cardiovascular Engineering Group , Torrington Place , London , WC1E 7JE , UK.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Tomaso
authors.affiliation: Vascular Unit , University College Hospital , 235 Euston Road , London , NW1 2BU , UK.
authors.forename: Obiekezie
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Agu
authors.affiliation: UCL Mechanical Engineering , University College London , Multiscale Cardiovascular Engineering Group , Torrington Place , London , WC1E 7JE , UK ; InScilico Ltd , London , EC1 V 4PW , UK.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichardo-Almarza
keywords: atherosclerosis; computational models; computer simulations; diseases; health care; national health systems; patient-specific simulation approach; personalised healthcare; personalised management; vascular clinics; vascular service unit