'Game Changer' AI Detects Heart Attack Risk, Pilot Project Underway

Scientists have hailed a new AI model that identifies people at risk of heart attacks within the next decade as "game changing." This technology detects heart inflammation that is not visible on conventional CT scans, which rely on X-rays and computer technology.

NHS-Backed Pilot Project

NHS England supports a pilot project currently running in five hospital trusts across Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton. A decision on its wider use within the NHS is expected soon.

Development and Future Applications

Created by Caristo Diagnostics, an Oxford University spinout, this technology is also being adapted to prevent strokes and diabetes. Prof Keith Channon from the University of Oxford described it as transformative, noting, “For the first time, we can detect biological processes that are invisible to the human eye, which precede the development of narrowings and blockages in the heart.”

AI Analysis Process

Patients experiencing chest pain and referred for a CT scan as part of the pilot have their scans analyzed by the CaRi-Heart AI platform from Caristo Diagnostics. The AI identifies coronary inflammation and plaque, and trained operators verify the results. Increased inflammation is linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.

Impact on Heart Disease

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) estimates that 7.6 million people in the UK live with heart disease, costing the NHS £7.4 billion annually. About 350,000 cardiac CT scans are performed each year in the UK.

Study Findings

The Orfan study (Oxford Risk Factors and Non-invasive imaging) involved 40,000 patients and was published in The Lancet. It revealed that 80% of patients were sent back to primary care without specific prevention or treatment plans. However, those with coronary artery inflammation had a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from a cardiac event within 10 years. The AI technology helped 45% of these patients receive medication or lifestyle advice to reduce future heart attack risks.

Personal Impact

Ian Pickard, 58, from Leicestershire, experienced chest pain and was referred for a CT scan in November 2023. Enrolled in the Orfan study, he was prescribed statins and advised to quit smoking and exercise more after AI analysis showed his heart attack risk. "It's a huge wake-up call," Mr. Pickard said. "When you see it on paper, you realize how serious it is. It's something you can look at each day and think, 'I've got to do something about this'."

Expert Insights

Prof Charalambos Antoniades, Orfan study lead, highlighted that traditional risk calculators assess general risk factors like diabetes, smoking, or obesity. “Now, with this kind of AI technology, we know exactly which patient has the disease activity in their arteries before it fully develops. This means we can move early to end the disease process and treat this patient to prevent the disease from developing and then prevent heart attacks from happening,” he explained.

Future Prospects

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is evaluating the technology for potential NHS rollout. The AI tool is also under review in the US and has been approved for use in Europe and Australia.