The AI stethoscope detects 3 heart diseases in just 15 seconds, discovers the study
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The first artificial intelligence stethoscope (AI) went beyond listening to a heartbeat.
Researchers from Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have discovered that an AI stethoscope can detect heart failure at an early stage.
The results of the Tricerce study, published in BMJ journals, revealed that the AI compatible stethoscope can help doctors identify three heart conditions in just 15 seconds.
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According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which partially financed the study, the researchers analyzed the data of more than 1.5 million patients, focusing on people with heart failure symptoms such as shortness of breath, swelling and fatigue.
In total, 12,725 patients were examined with the new AI stethoscope technology. Patients have proven to be twice as likely to be diagnosed with heart failure compared to similar patients not examined with the tool.
A practitioner uses an AI stethoscope on a patient at the Imperial College in London. (Imperial College London)
Patients examined with the stethoscope were also about 3.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rate), which increases the risk of stroke.
Patients with AI stethoscope were also twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of heart valve disease, where one or more valves work badly.
“Given an earlier diagnosis, people can access the treatment they need to help them live well longer.”
These three conditions require early diagnosis to receive potentially vital treatment, according to the BHF press release.
Dr. Patrik Bächtiger, clinical professor at the Imperial College in London, noted in a press release that the design of the stethoscope, which was developed in 1816, has not changed for 200 years.
The first stethoscope, developed in 1816, has not been updated for 200 years. (istock)
“It is incredible that an intelligent stethoscope can be used for a 15-second exam, then the AI can quickly provide a test result indicating whether someone has heart failure, atrial fibrillation or a heart valve disease,” he wrote.
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director of the British Heart Foundation and a consultant cardiologist, also commented in a statement that these heart diseases are often diagnosed at advanced stages when patients arrive at the hospital for emergency care.
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“Given a previous diagnosis, people can access the treatment they need to help them live well longer,” she said.
Nearly 6.7 million people live with heart failure in the United States, according to centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heart failure can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, weight gain, fatigue, weakness and swelling in feet, legs, ankles or stomach. (istock)
Heart failure can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, weight gain, fatigue, weakness and swelling in feet, legs, ankles or stomach.
The risk of heart failure can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and conditions related to heart disease, the above source states.
How does the device work
The AI stethoscope, which has only the size of a playing card, takes an ECG recording of electrical signals from the patient’s heart. The microphone on the tool also records the sound of blood flowing through the heart.
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The information recorded is analyzed by AI algorithms that have been trained on health data of tens of thousands of people. The tool then generates a test result for the risk of heart failure.
A separate algorithm can detect atrial fibrillation, which often shows no symptoms.
The Duo Duo stethoscope, developed by Eko Health in California, uses AI to detect heart complications in seconds. (Eko Health)
Risks and limitations
Researchers suggest that there must be more integration of technology into general practice, because 70% of practitioners with intelligent stethoscopes have ceased to use them after 12 months.
The study also revealed that two thirds of people suspected of suffering from heart failure did not have the condition after another blood test or other heart scan.
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“This could lead to unnecessary anxiety and tests for some people,” BHF wrote in the press release. “Researchers point out that the AI stethoscope should be used for patients with symptoms of suspicious heart problems, not for routine controls in healthy people.”
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Jeremy London, commented the emergence of AI to medicine.
The cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Jeremy London, warns that doctors should approach AI with particular attention, although long -term use is “more beneficial than prejudicial”. (istock)
“Deciding which protocol is the science of medicine; that this protocol is really appropriate for this patient is the art of medicine,” said the doctor based in Georgia.
“And with AI, there is no human quality at this stage, so finding how to interface these two is a real challenge.”
“AI stethoscope should be used for patients with symptoms of suspicious heart problems, not for routine controls in healthy people.”
London highlighted the need to use AI as “a framework, not as an absolute, because it can be false”.
“Especially when we take care of people … We must make sure that we do it properly.”
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The doctor said that he thought that in the long term, the AI will be “more beneficial than harmful” in medicine.
The Tricerce study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), British Heart Foundation and Imperial Health Charity, and was presented at the annual congress of the European Cardiology Society in Madrid.
