Glycemic control in the intensive care unit: A control systems perspective

Abstract

Abstract Computers and automation have revolutionised quality and productivity in many industries, but not in medicine. Healthcare costs are thus growing beyond the ability of society to pay for them, multiplied by the impact of increasingly aging populations, and specifically in the demand placed on intensive care unit (ICU) services. Glycemic control is a core ICU therapy with the potential to reduce both mortality and cost, which makes it an area where greater personalisation and automation could play a leading role in improving productivity and care. This review presents the background to the problem and the main issues arising in this area of care from a control systems technology perspective. It then presents a vision of a more automated future with specific goals in the areas of dynamic systems modeling, system identification and control. These areas are then given a state of the art review, mixing both medicine and control systems perspectives. It is concluded by specific recommendations for the field, where control systems expertise can be leveraged to best advantage.