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Scientists in the UK have unveiled an AI model capable of identifying individuals at risk of a heart attack within the next decade.
The AI, developed by Caristo Diagnostics, an Oxford University spinout company, can detect heart inflammation that does not appear on conventional CT scans.
This innovative technology is currently being piloted at five NHS hospital trusts in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton, with a decision on its broader use within the NHS expected soon.
Challenges and Expanding Capabilities
The new AI model, known as the CaRi-Heart platform, analyzes routine CT scans to detect coronary inflammation and plaque. This breakthrough model offers a level of insight previously unavailable through conventional methods of diagnosis.
Professor Keith Channon from the University of Oxford described the technology as “transformative and game-changing,” as it can reveal biological processes invisible to the human eye that precede the development of blockages in the heart.
Research supporting this technology’s efficiency includes the ORFAN study, which involved 40,000 patients, as evidenced in a publication in The Lancet.
The study revealed that 80% of patients sent back to primary care without a defined prevention or treatment plan had a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from a cardiac event if they had inflammation in their coronary arteries.
The AI tool facilitated the prescription of medication or lifestyle changes for 45% of these patients, aiming to prevent future heart attacks. However, the technology’s implementation across the NHS is still under evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
It has already been approved for use in Europe and Australia and is currently under review in the United States.
The AI’s capability to detect hidden risks highlights a significant advancement in personalized medicine, potentially preventing thousands of avoidable deaths from heart attacks in the UK each year.
AI’s Impact on Healthcare and Future Developments
The CaRi-Heart AI technology comes amidst a broader trend of integrating advanced AI tools into healthcare. For example, in early April, the FDA approved Eko Health’s AI-embedded stethoscope for early detection of heart failure (HF) during routine checkups.
This AI, developed in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, can detect low ejection fraction (Low EF), a key indicator of HF, within 15 seconds. This innovation is particularly significant given the high prevalence of HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) in the US, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood efficiently.
Researchers from Mayo Clinic and spinout company @AnumanaInc revealed in a new study the potential for ECG-AI models to uncover cardiovascular disease risks sooner than current risk equations and add a new dimension of clinical decision-making tools: https://t.co/CV4Ah2oLSV pic.twitter.com/S08Pj9ZIUV
— Gianrico Farrugia (@GFarrugiaMD) November 9, 2023
Research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November 2023 also demonstrated the utility of AI in identifying peripartum cardiomyopathy.
The study, which included nearly 1,200 Nigerian women during pregnancy or postpartum, found that AI-enhanced digital stethoscopes detected twice as many cases compared to standard clinical ECGs and routine obstetric care.
