The AI algorithm, trained by researchers at Leeds University, leverages extensive patient data to identify those most at risk. According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), over one million people in the UK currently suffer from heart failure, highlighting the urgent need for improved early detection methods.
Professor Chris Gale, from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds, emphasized the transformative potential of this technology. He described the development as opening a “crucial window of opportunity” for patients. “Find-HF could potentially bring diagnoses forward by two years,” he noted.
The study, funded by the BHF, utilized patient records from 565,284 UK adults to train the AI algorithm. To ensure its effectiveness, the tool was further tested on a separate database of 106,026 records from Taiwan National University Hospital. The AI demonstrated impressive accuracy in predicting which patients were at the highest risk of developing heart failure and those likely to be hospitalized with the condition within five years.
Enhancing Quality of Life
Professor Gale, who also serves as a consultant cardiologist, highlighted the AI’s potential to revolutionize patient care. “This is an extremely powerful and unique national resource, and it is time to use these data to benefit patients,” he said.
The Find-HF platform could serve as an early warning system for general practitioners (GPs), allowing them to test and diagnose patients sooner. This proactive approach is expected to be particularly beneficial for women and older adults, who often receive their diagnoses at more advanced stages of the disease.
Dr. Ramesh Nadarajah, a health data research UK fellow at the University of Leeds, emphasized the importance of early diagnosis. “Many people receive their diagnosis of heart failure at too late a stage when disease-modifying treatments are potentially less effective, especially women and older people,” he explained. “We are using machine learning tools with routinely collected data to identify people with heart failure earlier, so that they can get the right treatment and prevent hospital admissions and death, and improve quality of life.”
This innovative use of AI in healthcare represents a promising step forward in the battle against heart failure. By harnessing the power of big data and machine learning, the Find-HF tool aims to improve patient outcomes and enhance the quality of life for millions at risk of this debilitating condition.
