Asthma affects more than half a million New Zealanders and remains a major contributor to hospital admissions, healthcare costs, and preventable deaths. Advances in data science and artificial intelligence provide new opportunities to improve asthma management through proactive and personalised care.
This presentation highlights a multidisciplinary research programme that applies machine learning and predictive analytics to asthma-related healthcare challenges. Using large-scale, de-identified datasets from Auckland healthcare providers, predictive models were developed to identify patients at risk of asthma attacks, estimate hospital length of stay, and forecast peak demand periods for asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalisations. The research integrates clinical, demographic, environmental, and digital data sources, including weather conditions, air quality measures, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) readings, and Google Trends data.
Results demonstrate the potential of machine learning techniques to support early intervention, improve healthcare resource planning, and enhance patient outcomes. The presentation will showcase key findings, lessons learned, and future opportunities for deploying data-driven decision support tools that enable more efficient, proactive, and patient-centred asthma care.
Associate Professor Farhaan Mirza, is a leading researcher and academic in digital health, artificial intelligence, data science, and health informatics. He serves as Director of the Computer and Information Sciences Research Centre (CISRC) and Acting Associate Head of School (External Engagement) within the School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand.
With extensive experience spanning academia, healthcare, and industry, Farhaan leads multidisciplinary research initiatives focused on leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, health informatics, and digital technologies to address real-world healthcare and societal challenges. His work has contributed to advancing evidence-based innovation in healthcare delivery, clinical decision support, and digital transformation across health systems.
A Fellow of both the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (FAIDH) and Health Informatics New Zealand (FHINZ), Farhaan is recognized for his leadership in fostering collaboration between researchers, healthcare providers, government agencies, and industry partners. He has successfully led and contributed to numerous national and international research projects and is a sought-after speaker on emerging technologies, digital health strategy, AI adoption, and innovation ecosystems.
Through his research, leadership, and engagement activities, Farhaan continues to champion the responsible and impactful use of technology to improve health outcomes and create sustainable digital futures.