Scientists are excited about new technology that can identify people at risk of a heart attack within the next 10 years. This artificial intelligence (AI) model detects heart inflammation that does not show up on CT scans. CT scans use a combination of X-rays and computer technology.
A pilot project supported by NHS England is testing this AI model. It is running at five hospital trusts: Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton. A decision on its use within the NHS is expected soon.
Caristo Diagnostics, an Oxford University spinout company, developed this technology. The company is also working to adapt it for preventing strokes and diabetes. “This technology is transformative and game changing because we can detect biological processes invisible to the human eye,” said Prof. Keith Channon from the University of Oxford.
In the pilot, patients with chest pain who are referred for a routine CT scan have their scan analyzed by Caristo Diagnostics’ CaRi-Heart AI platform. The AI algorithm detects coronary inflammation and plaque, which is then verified by trained operators. Research shows increased inflammation is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and fatal heart attacks.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) estimates that 7.6 million people in the UK live with heart disease. The annual cost to the NHS in England is £7.4 billion. Each year, about 350,000 patients are referred for a cardiac CT scan in the UK, according to the BHF.
The Orfan study (Oxford Risk Factors and Non-invasive imaging) involving 40,000 patients, published in the Lancet, found that 80% of people were sent back to primary care without a defined prevention or treatment plan. Researchers found that patients with inflammation in their coronary arteries had a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from a cardiac event over the next 10 years.
The study, funded by BHF, showed that using AI technology led to 45% of those patients being prescribed medication or encouraged to make lifestyle changes to prevent future heart attacks. This AI model could revolutionize heart disease prevention and save many lives.
