AI ECG Heart Disease Risk – Women’s Health
An AI model now identifies women at a high risk of heart disease by analyzing ECGs. This groundbreaking work, funded by the British Heart Foundation, uses an algorithm to assess cardiovascular risk specifically in women, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and improved outcomes. The study reveals that women whose ECG patterns resemble those of men face a substantially elevated risk. This innovative approach challenges the conventional understanding of heart health.News Directory 3 reported on Imperial College London’s research, highlighting the potential to reduce gender disparities in cardiac care. Trials of the AIRE model are planned for late 2025. Discover what’s next for women’s heart health.
AI Model Flags Heart Disease Risk in Women via ECG Analysis
A new artificial intelligence model can detect women at increased risk of heart disease by analyzing electrocardiograms (ECGs). The algorithm, designed specifically for female patients, could help doctors identify high-risk individuals earlier, leading to improved care, according to researchers. The findings appeared in Lancet Digital Health.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, involved analyzing over one million ECGs from 180,000 patients, including 98,000 women. The AI assessed how closely a patient’s ECG matched typical patterns for each sex. Women whose ECGs resembled the typical male pattern, such as having a larger electrical signal, tended to have larger heart chambers and more muscle mass.
Researchers found that these women faced a significantly elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, future heart failure, and heart attacks compared to women with ECGs that more closely matched the typical female pattern. Cardiovascular disease is often perceived as a greater threat to men, perhaps leading to underestimation of risk in women, despite it being a leading cause of death.
Dr. arunashis Sau, of Imperial College London, who led the research, said the study highlights the complexity of cardiovascular disease in women. He believes AI-enhanced ECGs provide a more nuanced understanding of female heart health, potentially improving outcomes for at-risk women.
Dr. Fu Siong Ng, also of Imperial College London, noted that many women identified by the model were at even higher risk then the average man. He hopes the AI model will reduce gender disparities in cardiac care and improve outcomes for women.
The research group also published a paper on AIRE, a related AI-ECG risk estimation model. Trials of AIRE within the National Health Service (NHS) are planned for late 2025.
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, with the British heart Foundation, said women are frequently enough misdiagnosed or dismissed due to the misconception that heart disease is primarily a male issue. She added that this research could help identify high-risk patients and reduce the gender gap in heart care.
The research was supported by the British Heart Foundation and the NIHR Imperial biomedical Research Center.
What’s next
Trials of the AIRE model are slated for late 2025 within the NHS, evaluating its benefits with real patients across Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This model will be trialed in conjunction with AIRE.