Background: The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Blockchain (BC) in healthcare has been transformative, particularly for managing Electronic Health Records (EHRs). IoT devices, including wearable sensors, generate vast amounts of personal health data, while BC ensures secure, immutable, and efficient data management. However, security, privacy, and interoperability challenges continue to hinder their widespread adoption.
Aim: This paper aims to provide an updated review on integrating IoT and BC for medical records, with a focus on addressing security concerns, improving interoperability, and developing efficient frameworks for healthcare applications. The present study aims to evaluate the role of blockchain technology in the diagnosis and monitoring chronic diseases. Diabetes was evaluated using biochemical Markers.
Methods: A systematic review of existing literature on IoT, BC, and EHR systems was conducted. The study analyzed the security risks of IoT integration into healthcare, reviewed the potential of BC in mitigating these risks, and proposed a novel BC-based IoT-EHR framework.
Results: The review found that while IoT devices enhance patient monitoring and data collection, they introduce significant privacy and security vulnerabilities. BC's tamper-proof and decentralized structure offers an ideal solution for securing EHRs generated by IoT devices. However, the computational constraints of IoT devices and the complexity of BC consensus mechanisms present challenges. The paper proposes a BC-based IoT-EHR framework that addresses these limitations while ensuring secure data storage, transaction integrity, and compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. Blockchain technologies have a great role in chronic diseases diagnosis and management.
Conclusion: The integration of IoT and BC holds promise for transforming healthcare data management. Despite challenges related to computational power and interoperability, BC can significantly enhance the security and privacy of IoT-enabled EHR systems, ensuring safe and efficient healthcare delivery