A major study has found that artificial intelligence can identify the people most at risk of having a heart attack up to ten years in advance.
With tests showing the technology can detect warning signs that traditional scans miss, it has the potential to save thousands of lives each year.
The study, conducted by the University of Oxford, found that up to a fifth of heart attacks could be prevented. Meanwhile, the results also indicate an 8 percent decrease in deaths.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 patients who underwent routine heart CT scans at eight UK hospitals.
They found that those whose results showed “significant” narrowing of the arteries were more likely to have a serious heart attack. However, twice as many patients without significant stenosis also had a heart attack.
The study, conducted by the University of Oxford, found that up to a fifth of heart attacks could be prevented
The team then used a new AI tool trained using information about changes in the fat around inflamed arteries, which can indicate the risk of events such as heart attacks.
Further studies on a further 3,393 patients over several years showed that the risk of cardiac events could be accurately predicted.
Among those without blockages in their arteries, those with the highest levels of inflammation in their arteries had more than 10 times the risk of heart death than those with lower levels of inflammation.
In a world-first pilot presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia, they provided AI-generated risk assessments to doctors for 744 patients and found that doctors changed patients’ treatment plans up to 45 percent of the time.
Professor Charalambos Antoniades, from the University of Oxford, said: “Our research has shown that some patients in hospital with chest pain – who are often sedated and sent home – are at high risk of having a heart attack in the next decade get, even if that was the case.” end up in hospital with chest pains if there are no signs of disease in your heart arteries.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 patients who underwent routine cardiac CT scans at eight UK hospitals
“Here we have shown that providing physicians with an accurate picture of the risks can change and potentially improve the course of care for many heart patients.”
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said it showed the “valuable role that AI-based technology can play” in identifying those most at risk of future heart attacks.
He said: “We hope that this technology will eventually be rolled out across the NHS and help save the lives of thousands of people every year who would otherwise go untreated.”
The NHS this winter unveiled a series of pilots using AI to prevent hospital admissions.
This includes an initiative in Buckinghamshire to record the eating and drinking habits of vulnerable people at home to prevent them being admitted to hospital.
The new AI tool is trained using information about changes in the fat around inflamed arteries, which can indicate the risk of events such as heart attacks
Electronic sensors are attached to kettles and fridges to monitor changes in consumption behaviour, which are then reported by a health team.
Meanwhile, NHS teams in Birmingham are testing an algorithm to prevent thousands of visits to hospital or GP.
The top 5 per cent of patients are predicted to be at risk of going to hospital or being admitted, enabling staff to come forward to provide social care interventions.
The program aims to prevent 4,500 unnecessary visits to the emergency department, as well as 17,000 hospital stays and 23,000 GP appointments over the next two years.
NHS England chief Amanda Pritchard said it would help identify the “most vulnerable or vulnerable patients” and reduce the number of avoidable emergency visits.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
