Artificial intelligence could ‘transform’ heart attack diagnosis, scientists say

Artificial intelligence (AI) could be “transformational” in improving heart attack diagnosis to reduce pressure on emergency departments, a new study suggests.

Doctors could soon use an algorithm developed using AI to diagnose heart attacks with better speed and accuracy than ever before, the research from the University of Edinburgh indicates.

It could also help tackle dangerous inequalities in diagnosing the condition, scientists suggest.

Researchers found that, compared to current testing methods, the algorithm called CoDE-ACS was able to rule out a heart attack in more than double the number of patients, with an accuracy of 99.6%.

Nicholas Mills, British Heart Foundation (BHF) professor of cardiology at the Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, who led the research, said: “For patients with acute chest pain due to a heart attack, early diagnosis and treatment saves lives.

“Unfortunately, many conditions cause these common symptoms, and the diagnosis is not always straight forward.

“Harnessing data and artificial intelligence to support clinical decisions has enormous potential to improve care for patients and efficiency in our busy emergency departments.”

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Source: The Independent, 11 May 2023