Every year, atrial fibrillation (AF) contributes to around 20,000 strokes in the UK. Many of these strokes are preventable, but AF often goes undiagnosed, as it doesn’t always present symptoms. For some, AF causes palpitations, dizziness, or breathlessness, while for others, the condition remains entirely silent, leaving them unaware of their increased stroke risk.
To address this challenge, a groundbreaking AI tool has been developed to identify people at risk of AF before symptoms arise. Created by researchers at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the tool scours anonymized electronic health records to spot “red flags.” Using data from over 2.1 million people and validated with records from an additional 10 million, this algorithm is revolutionizing early detection.
Currently being tested in a six-month trial across surgeries in West Yorkshire, the tool assesses factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and preexisting conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic heart disease. Patients flagged as high risk are given a portable ECG device to monitor their heart rhythm twice daily for four weeks. If irregularities indicative of AF are detected, the patient’s GP is alerted, enabling early intervention.
Early detection is crucial because AF-related strokes are often more severe and debilitating than other types. However, when AF is identified and managed, the risk of stroke can be significantly reduced. Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, highlighted the potential of this innovation: “By harnessing the power of routinely collected healthcare data and prediction algorithms, this research offers a real opportunity to reduce the burden of devastating strokes.”
If successful, the trial could pave the way for a UK-wide rollout, saving thousands of lives. This AI-driven approach is not just a technological advancement but a significant milestone in stroke prevention, offering hope to those unknowingly living at risk.
Article written by News Sky
28/12/2024
Source:
News Sky
https://news.sky.com/story/ai-tool-detects-heart-condition-before-people-have-symptoms-13280741