Published: 10 November 2023
AI technology to help detect heart disease is being deployed across 100 GP surgeries in the UK, thanks to funding from NIHR.
Researchers at Imperial College London received £1.2 million from the NIHR to help develop a new system, known as Eko DUO.
Researchers are testing Eko DUO to help detect heart failure more effectively. Patients taking part in the research will receive a non-invasive examination at their GP. The test uses a ‘digital stethoscope’ and an app powered by Eko Health’s AI.
At the moment, most people with heart failure are only diagnosed when they’ve become very unwell. Spotting the problem earlier could make treatment more effective and help save money for the healthcare system.
The smart stethoscope uses data from an electrocardiogram test, which checks heart rhythm and electrical activity. It combines this with heart sound data and uses AI to spot patterns that indicate heart failure and other kinds of heart disease.
If the test detects signs of heart disease, the GP can start further tests and treatments. Using the tool at GP surgeries could help reduce the need for patients to visit A&E with heart disease symptoms.
Current tests for heart disease include blood tests that take longer to give a result. This can mean it’s harder to spot disease at an early stage, when it can be tackled more effectively.
Dr. Nicholas Peters, Professor of Cardiology, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, is the clinical-academic implementation team lead.
He said: “Heart failure admission alone costs the UK over £2 billion annually, and an unacceptable 80% of these diagnoses are made during emergency admissions.”
Connor Landgraf, Co-founder and CEO of Eko Health, said:
“This deployment around the UK of our AI-enabled heart disease detection technology demonstrates the need for accurate and early heart disease detection.
“We’re proud to partner with leading academic institutions such as Imperial College London to validate the clinical utility and positive impact our technology has on the lives of millions of patients.”