A REVIEW ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL HEALTH IN VIRAL HEPATITIS CARE: CURRENT LANDSCAPE AND FUTURE HORIZONS

Abstract

Viral hepatitis remains one of the most significant global public health challenges, affecting more than 300 million individuals worldwide and causing approximately 1.3 million deaths annually due to cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite remarkable advances in vaccination strategies, highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), and nucleos(t)ide analogues, substantial gaps persist in disease screening, early diagnosis, treatment initiation, long-term monitoring, and healthcare accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health technologies are transforming hepatology by providing innovative approaches for disease prediction, automated diagnosis, precision medicine, remote monitoring, and clinical decision support. Machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, wearable sensors, mobile health applications, electronic health records, and telemedicine platforms enable rapid analysis of multimodal clinical data and facilitate individualized patient management. AI-assisted imaging significantly improves non-invasive liver fibrosis staging and hepatocellular carcinoma detection, while predictive algorithms optimize antiviral treatment selection, estimate sustained virological response, and identify patients at risk of disease progression. Emerging technologies such as digital liver twins, multi-omics integration, explainable AI, federated learning, and generative AI are expected to revolutionize precision hepatology and accelerate progress toward the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. However, successful implementation requires overcoming challenges related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, regulatory approval, interoperability, clinical validation, and equitable healthcare access. This review comprehensively summarizes the current landscape of artificial intelligence and digital health in viral hepatitis care, highlights recent technological advances, discusses ethical and regulatory considerations, and explores future opportunities for integrating intelligent digital ecosystems into routine hepatology practice.