Abstract
Objective. The aim of this study was to provide a definition of big data in healthcare. Methods. A systematic search of PubMed literature published until May 9, 2014, was conducted. We noted the number of statistical individuals (n) and the number of variables (p) for all papers describing a dataset. These papers were classified into fields of study. Characteristics attributed to big data by authors were also considered. Based on this analysis, a definition of big data was proposed. Results. A total of 196 papers were included. Big data can be defined as datasets with Log(n∗p) ≥ 7. Properties of big data are its great variety and high velocity. Big data raises challenges on veracity, on all aspects of the workflow, on extracting meaningful information, and on sharing information. Big data requires new computational methods that optimize data management. Related concepts are data reuse, false knowledge discovery, and privacy issues. Conclusion. Big data is defined by volume. Big data should not be confused with data reuse: data can be big without being reused for another purpose, for example, in omics. Inversely, data can be reused without being necessarily big, for example, secondary use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) data.
Highlights
The 21st century is an era of big data involving all aspects of human life, including biology and medicine [1]
With the advance in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other types of omics technologies during the past decades, a tremendous amount of data related to molecular biology has been produced [2]
We consider that big data should exclusively be defined by volume, and we propose that a dataset could be qualified as “big dataset” only if Log(n∗p) is superior or equal to 7
Summary
The 21st century is an era of big data involving all aspects of human life, including biology and medicine [1]. With the advance in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other types of omics technologies during the past decades, a tremendous amount of data related to molecular biology has been produced [2]. The transition from paper medical records to EHR systems has led to an exponential growth of data [3]. The term “big data” does not have a proper definition in the MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) database yet. A precise, well-formed, and unambiguous definition is a requirement for a shared understanding of the term big data. The objective of this work is to provide a definition of big data in healthcare through a review of the literature
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