Researchers from Great Britain have developed an artificial intelligence that could save thousands of people from heart problems in the long term. The background is a new system that is intended to identify high-risk patients.
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has found its way into many areas. In addition to the private use of tools like ChatGPT, more and more companies are also using AI. A current example from Great Britain now shows to what extent artificial intelligence could save lives. A new system aims to identify people who are likely to suffer a heart attack in the next ten years.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) is currently evaluating whether artificial intelligence should soon be available to British citizens as standard. Experts expect a decision by the end of the year.
The scientists behind the project are also working on similar AI systems to predict strokes and other diseases such as diabetes. The technology has already been used on a test basis in several hospitals.
Artificial intelligence determines the risk of heart problems
The results so far appear extremely promising. More than 300,000 people in the UK experience severe chest pain every year and subsequently undergo CT scans. However, fewer than 20 percent of these patients actually have dangerous narrowings of their coronary arteries.
Doctors often send the remaining 80 percent straight home without medication. This is despite the fact that many of them later suffer serious or fatal cardiac events. The research team at Oxford University therefore developed a method to make hidden information visible in CT scans.
These could provide evidence of dangerous inflammation in the arteries. This allows doctors to administer preventive treatments such as anti-inflammatory medications. The AI technology uses data about the properties of plaques in the coronary arteries and changes in fatty tissue. This helps to identify inflamed arteries and derive important information about the general health of the heart arteries.
Use in Europe is also conceivable
The researchers first determined the risk factors using US case studies. However, data from 40,000 real patients in British hospitals is now available. The study showed that 45 percent of the time, doctors changed a patient’s treatment based on data provided by the AI. These treatments include the administration of medications such as colchicine, which reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The team plans to introduce the technology in the US as well. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently examining approval there. In Europe, use is already possible in the form of clinical studies. The launch could be a major step forward in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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