Application of artificial intelligence in triage in emergencies and disasters: a systematic review

Modern and intelligent triage systems are used today due to the growing trend of disasters and emergencies worldwide and the increase in the number of injured people facing the challenge of using traditional triage methods. The main objective of this study is to investigate the application of artificial intelligence and Technology in the triage of patients injured by disasters and emergencies and the challenges of the implementation of intelligent triage systems.

The present study is a systematic review and follows PRISMA guidelines. The protocol of this study was registered in PROSPERO with the code CRD42023471415. To find relevant studies, the databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (ISI) were searched without a time limit until September 2024. The scientific search engine Google Scholar and the references of the final articles were read manually for the final review.

The search identified 2,630 articles, narrowing down to 19 high-quality studies on AI in triage, which improved patient care through optimized resource management and real-time data transmission. AI algorithms like OpenPose and YOLO enhanced efficiency in mass casualty incidents, while e-triage systems allowed for continuous vital sign monitoring and faster triaging. AI tools demonstrated high accuracy in diagnosing COVID-19 (94.57%). Implementing intelligent triage systems faced challenges such as trust issues, training needs, equipment shortages, and data privacy concerns.

Developing assessment systems using artificial intelligence enables timely treatment and better resuscitation services for people injured in disasters. For future studies, we recommend designing intelligent triage systems to remove the obstacles in triaging children and disabled people in disasters.