New discoveries in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) suggest that this powerful technology could be the key to preventing heart attacks and saving thousands of lives. In a recent study conducted by the University of Oxford and funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), researchers explored how AI could improve the accuracy of cardiac CT scans to detect potential blockages or narrowing in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart attacks.
According to the BHF, around 350,000 people in the UK undergo cardiac CT scans each year. However, these scans often fail to detect small, undetectable narrowings, leading to an alarming number of patients going on to experience heart attacks. The researchers analyzed the data of over 40,000 patients who had routine cardiac CT scans at eight UK hospitals. They found that patients with “significant” narrowing of the arteries were indeed more likely to experience serious heart attacks. However, twice as many patients with no significant narrowings also went on to have heart attacks, some of which were fatal.
To address this issue and improve the accuracy of predicting heart attacks, the research team developed an AI program. This AI tool was trained using information on changes in the fat around inflamed arteries, which can indicate the risk of a heart attack. The results were promising. Professor Charalambos Antoniades, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the BHF and director of the acute multidisciplinary imaging and interventional center at the University of Oxford, explained, “Our study found that some patients presenting in the hospital with chest pain - who are often reassured and sent back home - are at high risk of having a heart attack in the next decade, even in the absence of any sign of disease in their heart arteries.”
The AI tool was then tested on a further 3,393 patients over the course of nearly eight years. The results were remarkable - the AI software accurately predicted the risk of a heart attack. Medics were presented with AI-generated risk scores for 744 patients, and as a result, 45% of these patients had their treatment plans altered. This demonstrates the potential of AI in guiding patient treatment and improving outcomes.
The implications of this study are significant. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the BHF, expressed his excitement about the research, stating, “The research shows the valuable role AI-based technology can play in identifying those most at risk of future heart attacks.” He further emphasized the alarming number of heart attack-related deaths each year and emphasized the importance of harnessing the potential of AI to save lives.
The hope is that this AI tool will soon be implemented across the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), ultimately helping prevent thousands of avoidable deaths from heart attacks each year. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani also stressed the importance of ensuring that the NHS is equipped to support the use of AI-based technology.
The study’s findings have garnered support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre as well. Overall, the study highlights the immense potential of AI in revolutionizing healthcare and improving patient outcomes. As AI continues to advance, breakthroughs like these offer hope for a future where heart attacks can be predicted and prevented, saving countless lives in the process.
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