Artificial Intelligence evolved as the most significant technology behind the success of healthcare, like in any other industry segment in the recent past. AI in the healthcare sector supports the medical staff by performing activities previously performed by humans in less time with the smallest of investment.
A new report published in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology suggest ECGs (electrocardiograms) powered by AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms can detect when the patient is experiencing a heart failure more effectively than conventional blood tests.
A routine electrocardiogram powered by artificial intelligence is better to identify whether shortness of breath is caused by heart failure. The left ventricle, which supplies most of the heart’s pumping power is bigger than the other three chambers and essential for the standard function of the heart. The left ventricle is weakened during the left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and must work harder to keep adequate blood flow to the body. Artificial Intelligence-powered ECG presents an instantaneous and effective method to screen patients for left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Mayo Clinic researchers had used data on thousands of patients to train computers to differentiate between the ECG patterns of people eventually diagnosed with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and those without LVSD to create the AI-enhanced ECG. Standard ECG recordings can be examined with the resulting AI software application in about 10 seconds. AI-enhanced ECGs are more expeditious and better than current standards of care tests. Cardiac patients with high risk can be identified rapidly in the emergency department and provide an opportunity to admit them early to required cardiovascular care.
Emergency department doctors also rely on blood levels of natriuretic peptides, as these biomarkers are elevated in the blood in case of cardiac failure. The biomarker levels are also hit by age, kidney disease, obesity, or high blood pressure in the vessels that bring blood to the lungs, etc.
More than a million patients were admitted at emergency departments of hospitals due to shortness of breath a year and that figure is inflated in 2020 due to COVID-19 infections. The Food and Drug Administration sanctioned emergency use authorization of the AI-enhanced ECG algorithm to screen for left ventricular systolic dysfunction in people with confirmed as well as suspected COVID-19 infection.
