A revolutionary AI technology that predicts the likelihood of heart attacks within the next decade has been lauded as “game changing” by experts. This advanced artificial intelligence model can detect heart inflammation not visible on traditional CT scans, which use X-rays and computer imaging.
Currently, a pilot program, supported by NHS England, is testing the technology across five hospital trusts in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton. A decision on its broader NHS implementation is expected soon.
Caristo Diagnostics, the Oxford University spinout behind the revolutionary AI, is also working on adapting this technology for stroke and diabetes prevention. “This technology is transformative and game changing because for the first time we can detect the biological processes that are invisible to the human eye, which precede the development of narrowings and blockages [within the heart],” said Professor Keith Channon from the University of Oxford.
The pilot involves analyzing routine CT scans of patients experiencing chest pain using Caristo Diagnostics’ CaRi-Heart AI platform. Specifically, an algorithm identifies coronary inflammation and plaque, and subsequently, trained operators verify the results. Moreover, research links increased inflammation with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), around 7.6 million people in the UK live with heart disease, costing the NHS in England £7.4 billion annually. Each year, about 350,000 patients undergo cardiac CT scans in the UK.
The Orfan study (Oxford Risk Factors and Non-invasive Imaging), involving 40,000 patients and published in The Lancet, revealed that doctors returned 80% of patients to primary care without providing a clear prevention or treatment plan. The study showed that patients with coronary inflammation faced a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from a heart-related event within the next decade. Using AI technology, 45% of these patients received prescriptions or lifestyle recommendations to reduce future heart attack risks.
A Wake-Up Call
Ian Pickford, 58, from Barwell in Leicestershire, underwent a CT scan in November 2023 due to persistent chest pain and participated in the Orfan study at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. After AI analysis indicated he was at risk, he has been prescribed statins, advised to stop smoking, and increase his exercise. “It’s a huge wake-up call,” Pickford said. “Seeing it on paper makes you realize how serious it is and motivates you to take action.”
Professor Charalambos Antoniades, lead of the Orfan study, criticized previous tools as inadequate, noting they only assessed general risk factors like diabetes, smoking, or obesity. “With this kind of [AI] technology, we now identify disease activity in arteries before the disease develops,” Antoniades explained. “This allows us to intervene early to halt disease progression and prevent heart attacks.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently evaluating the technology for NHS-wide use. It is also under review in the US and has already received approval in Europe and Australia.
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