UK Researchers Develop AI to Uncover Hidden Heart Attack Risks

Key Insights

• Caristo Diagnostics has developed an AI model capable of predicting heart attack risks up to a decade in advance. This innovative tool is currently being tested in five NHS hospital trusts and may soon be rolled out across the NHS. Additionally, this AI technology holds potential for revolutionizing the prevention of not only heart disease but also stroke and diabetes.

UK Scientists Unveil Advanced AI for Predicting Heart Attack Risks

Researchers in the UK have introduced an advanced AI model by Caristo Diagnostics that can predict heart attack risks up to a decade in advance. This AI, developed by an Oxford University spinout, detects heart inflammation invisible to standard CT scans.

Currently being tested in five NHS hospital trusts, the AI model, known as the CaRi-Heart platform, analyzes routine CT scans to identify coronary inflammation and plaque, providing insights previously unattainable. Professor Keith Channon of Oxford University calls this development "transformative and game-changing," as it reveals biological processes leading to heart blockages.

Supporting research, including the ORFAN study published in The Lancet, showed that 80% of patients with coronary inflammation had a significantly higher risk of cardiac events. The AI tool enabled preventative measures for 45% of these patients through medication or lifestyle changes. While awaiting broader NHS approval, the technology is already approved in Europe and Australia and under review in the US. This AI-driven advancement in personalized medicine could potentially save thousands of lives annually in the UK.

AI’s Impact on Healthcare and Future Developments

The integration of AI into healthcare is rapidly advancing, exemplified by the recent introduction of CaRi-Heart AI technology. This development is part of a larger trend where sophisticated AI tools are becoming increasingly common in medical settings. For instance, in early April, the FDA approved Eko Health’s AI-powered stethoscope, designed to spot early signs of heart failure (HF) during routine checkups. Created in partnership with the Mayo Clinic, this AI technology can identify a crucial indicator of HF—low ejection fraction (Low EF)—in just 15 seconds. This is particularly noteworthy given the high prevalence of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the US, which impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

Additionally, research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in November 2023 highlighted AI’s role in diagnosing peripartum cardiomyopathy. In a study involving nearly 1,200 pregnant or postpartum women in Nigeria, AI-powered digital stethoscopes were found to detect twice as many cases of this condition compared to traditional ECGs and standard obstetric care.