Study: AI could be a game-changer for identifying high-risk heart patients

Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening new frontiers in healthcare by helping medical professionals identify patients at high risk for severe heart conditions. A recent study by the University of Leeds highlights how AI could be a game-changer for general practitioners (GPs) in pinpointing patients susceptible to heart-related issues.

This new approach could save lives and alleviate pressure on health systems like the NHS.

How does it work?

The AI system, known as Optimise, was developed with the help of researchers from the University of Leeds. It analyzed the health records of more than two million people, scanning for undiagnosed conditions and gaps in medication that could mitigate the risk of heart problems.

In the study, Optimise identified over 400,000 individuals at high risk for conditions such as heart failure, stroke, and diabetes — highlighting that 74% of these high-risk patients accounted for heart-related deaths.

In a smaller pilot involving 82 high-risk patients, the AI uncovered that one in five had undiagnosed moderate to high-risk chronic kidney disease. Additionally, more than half of the patients with high blood pressure were prescribed alternative medications to better manage their heart risk.

"This AI uses readily available data to gather new insights that could help healthcare professionals ensure that they are providing timely care for their patients," explained Dr. Ramesh Nadarajah, a health data research fellow involved in the study.

Why does it matter?

The ability to identify and intervene early with high-risk patients could revolutionize heart disease prevention. Many deaths from heart-related conditions are caused by multiple, interconnected factors that are often not recognized until it is too late. By utilizing AI, healthcare professionals can catch these risk factors earlier, potentially preventing conditions from worsening — a strategy that is generally more cost-effective than treating advanced heart disease.

"Preventing conditions from worsening is often cheaper than treatment," noted Dr. Nadarajah.

Furthermore, the approach could significantly reduce the strain on healthcare systems like the NHS by preventing hospital admissions.

"A quarter of all deaths in the UK are caused by heart and circulatory diseases," stated Prof. Bryan Williams, the chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study. "This new and exciting study harnesses the power of ever-evolving AI technology to detect the multitude of conditions that contribute to it."

The context

Heart and circulatory diseases remain the leading cause of death in the UK, responsible for about 25% of all deaths. The NHS — already under significant pressure — could greatly benefit from any method that reduces patient load. AI-driven solutions like Optimise offer a promising avenue for achieving this goal by improving early diagnosis and allowing for proactive intervention.

The research team has plans to conduct a more extensive clinical trial to validate these findings further, with the hope that this approach will benefit patients and healthcare systems alike.

"We hope our research will ultimately benefit patients living with heart and circulatory diseases, as well as help relieve pressure off our NHS systems," said Dr. Nadarajah.

The upcoming clinical trial will be crucial in understanding how AI can be integrated into routine care, potentially shifting the landscape of heart disease management.