AI opens new frontiers in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease
New study presents a tool to determine the need for coronary angioplasty through AI
A groundbreaking study, published in the European Heart Journal Quality of Care and Cardiovascular Outcomes, presents an innovative AI-based tool that can determine the need for coronary angioplasty simply by analyzing a coronary angiogram.
The problem of invasive diagnosis
Currently, to assess the severity of a coronary artery narrowing and decide whether to proceed with angioplasty surgery, cardiologists rely on invasive tests such as the Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) and the instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR). These tests, although very precise, have some disadvantages: they require the insertion of a catheter into the heart, pose some risk to the patient and are expensive. Also, not all cardiology centres are equipped to perform these procedures, limiting access to these diagnostic procedures.
AI as a solution
Artificial intelligence offers a possible solution to these problems. The Italian researchers have developed an algorithm capable of analyzing coronary artery imaging, which is a type of examination that allows to visualize the interior of the coronary arteries. The algorithm, trained on a vast image database, is able to identify with high precision atherosclerotic plaques obstructing arteries and assess their severity.
The benefits of AI
The use of AI in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease has several advantages:
- Less invasive: The analysis of coronary artery image is a less invasive examination than FFR and iFR examinations, since it does not require insertion of catheters
- Increased accessibility: AI could make coronary heart disease diagnosis more accessible, even in less well-equipped cardiology centres
- Faster: The algorithm can analyse images in seconds, allowing for quicker diagnosis
- Improved accuracy: Preliminary studies suggest that AI can achieve diagnostic accuracy comparable, if not higher, to FFR and iFR
The clinical implications
If the results of this study are confirmed by further research, AI could revolutionize clinical cardiology. Thanks to AI, cardiologists will be able to make more accurate and timely treatment decisions, improving patients’ prognosis. Furthermore, AI could help reduce the number of unnecessary invasive procedures, thus reducing costs for the health system.
The future of cardiology
This study is an important step towards more personalized and accurate cardiology. The integration of AI into the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease opens new perspectives for research and development of new therapies. However, further studies are needed to fully assess the potential of AI in this field and to define clinical guidelines for its use.
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