(Web Desk) — A breakthrough AI technology developed by Caristo Diagnostics, a spinout from Oxford University, has emerged as a potential game-changer in identifying individuals at risk of heart attacks over the next decade.
This innovative tool can detect heart inflammation, which is typically not visible on CT scans, combining X-rays and computer technology.
Endorsed by NHS England, a pilot project is currently being conducted at five hospital trusts in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton. A decision on the broader implementation of this technology within the NHS is anticipated in the coming months.
Beyond heart disease, the technology is being adapted to prevent conditions like diabetes and strokes. Professor Keith Channon of the University of Oxford described the tool as “transformative and game-changing,” highlighting its ability to reveal biological processes that are invisible to the human eye and precede the development of arterial narrowings and blockages.
In the pilot project, patients experiencing chest pain and undergoing routine CT scans have their scans analyzed using Caristo Diagnostics’ CaRi-Heart AI platform. The platform’s algorithm detects coronary inflammation and plaque, which is then verified by trained operators.
Increased inflammation has been linked to a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and fatal heart attacks. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) estimates that around 7.6 million people in the UK suffer from heart disease, costing the NHS in England £7.4 billion annually. Approximately 350,000 cardiac CT scans are conducted each year in the UK.
The Orfan study (Oxford Risk Factors and Non-invasive Imaging), published in The Lancet and involving 40,000 patients, found that 80% of patients were sent back to primary care without a clear prevention or treatment plan. The study revealed that patients with coronary artery inflammation faced a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from a cardiac event over the next decade. Using this AI technology, 45% of these high-risk patients were prescribed medication or advised to make lifestyle changes to prevent future heart attacks.
