Patient health records were reviewed to help develop the AI tool. Getty Images
Artificial intelligence (AI) might soon play a crucial role in helping doctors identify patients who are at high risk of developing serious heart conditions. A new AI system, known as Optimise, was developed with assistance from the University of Leeds. It analyzed the health records of over two million people, revealing that many had undiagnosed conditions or were not receiving the appropriate medications that could lower their risk of heart-related problems.
Dr. Ramesh Nadarajah from the University of Leeds highlighted that preventing conditions from worsening is often more cost-effective than treating them later. Among the two million health records examined, the AI identified more than 400,000 people as being at high risk for conditions like heart failure, stroke, and diabetes. This group constituted 74% of those who died from heart-related issues.
In a pilot study involving 82 high-risk patients, Optimise found that one in five had undiagnosed moderate to high-risk chronic kidney disease. Additionally, over half of the patients with high blood pressure were prescribed different medications to better manage their heart risks. The study suggests that early intervention using AI could help alleviate some of the pressures on healthcare systems.
Dr. Nadarajah emphasized that heart-related deaths are often the result of a combination of factors. The AI system uses readily available data to gain new insights, helping healthcare professionals provide timely and effective care for their patients.
The researchers presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in London. They plan to conduct a larger clinical trial in which doctors will provide care to patients based on the AI’s recommendations. Dr. Nadarajah expressed hope that this research will ultimately benefit patients with heart and circulatory diseases while also easing the burden on healthcare systems.
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, stated that early diagnosis is crucial in reducing hospital admissions. He emphasized that heart and circulatory diseases are responsible for a quarter of all deaths in the UK, and the study harnesses the power of AI technology to detect the multiple conditions contributing to this issue.
