Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation with AI Tool
A New Hope for Stroke Prevention
A new artificial intelligence tool in the United Kingdom is finding people with a heart condition before they even have symptoms, German news agency dpa reported. The groundbreaking tool scours doctors’ records to look for "red flags" that could indicate whether a patient is at risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF), a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. Patients with AF have a significantly higher risk of having a stroke.
The Impact of Atrial Fibrillation
For some, AF can lead to heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, and tiredness. But others have no symptoms and the affected person is completely unaware that their heart rate is irregular. Around 1.6 million people across the UK have been diagnosed with AF. However, leading heart charity the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said there are likely many thousands of undiagnosed others who are unaware they are living with the condition.
The Benefits of Early Detection
When AF is identified and treated early, it can be managed and the stroke risk reduced. The new AI tool is being assessed in a trial funded by the BHF and Leeds Hospitals Charity. The algorithm was developed by scientists and clinicians at the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, with funding from the BHF.
How the Algorithm Works
The algorithm was created using anonymised electronic health records of over 2.1 million people, training the algorithm to find warning signs that could indicate a person is at risk of developing AF. The tool was validated with medical records from a further 10 million people. Experts are assessing how effective it is at finding people who are at risk of developing AF in the next six months. Those identified are then offered further testing.
The Algorithm’s Factors
The algorithm works out someone’s risk based on a number of factors including age, sex, ethnicity, and whether or not they have other medical conditions including heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Next Steps
Those identified as high risk are offered a handheld electrocardiography machine to measure their heart rhythm twice a day for four weeks, as well as any time they feel heart palpitations. If the ECG machine readings indicate that a patient has AF, their doctor is informed and they can discuss treatment options. British experts hope that this will pave the way for a nationwide trial, which would hopefully prevent a number of avoidable strokes. Estimates suggest that AF is a contributing factor in around 20,000 strokes every year in the UK.
Conclusion
The new AI tool has the potential to revolutionize the way we detect atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that increases the risk of stroke. By identifying those at risk early, we can take steps to manage the condition and reduce the risk of stroke. This is a significant breakthrough in the fight against stroke and a testament to the power of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is atrial fibrillation?
A: Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.
Q: What are the symptoms of atrial fibrillation?
A: Some people may experience heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, and tiredness. Others may have no symptoms at all.
Q: How common is atrial fibrillation?
A: Around 1.6 million people across the UK have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. However, it is likely that many thousands of others are undiagnosed.
Q: What is the risk of stroke with atrial fibrillation?
A: Patients with atrial fibrillation have a significantly higher risk of having a stroke.
Q: How does the AI tool work?
A: The algorithm uses anonymised electronic health records to identify warning signs that could indicate a person is at risk of developing atrial fibrillation.