OXFORD: A team from Caristo Daignostics, an Oxford University spinout company, has developed an AI technology capable of identifying individuals at risk of a heart attack within the next decade. Scientists described the model as “game-changing” because it has the capacity to detect heart inflammation that cannot be seen on CT scans, which typically use a combination of X-rays and computer technology.
Supported by NHS England, a pilot project is currently underway at five hospital trusts in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton. A decision on the technology’s adoption within the NHS is anticipated in the coming months.
The technology is also being adapted for the prevention of diabetes and strokes. Professor Keith Channon from the University of Oxford stated, “This technology is transformative and game-changing because, for the first time, we can detect the biological processes invisible to the human eye that precede the development of narrowing and blockages within the heart.”
In the pilot project, patients experiencing chest pain and also referred for a routine CT scan have their scans analyzed by Caristo Diagnostics’ CaRi-Heart AI platform. The platform’s algorithm, which detects coronary inflammation and plaque, is verified by trained operators. Research has further shown that increased inflammation is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and fatal 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. Approximately 350,000 cardiac CT scans are conducted each year in the UK.
The Orfan study (Oxford Risk Factors and Non-invasive Imaging), involving 40,000 patients and published in The Lancet, revealed that 80% of individuals were returned to primary care without a defined prevention or treatment plan. The study found that patients with inflammation in their coronary arteries had a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from a cardiac event over the next 10 years. Using this AI technology, 45% of these patients were prescribed medication or advised to make lifestyle changes to prevent future heart attacks.
