AI-Powered Tool Unlocks Secrets to Predicting Heart Attacks with Unprecedented Accuracy

AI-Powered Tool Aims to Predict Heart Attacks with Unprecedented Accuracy A groundbreaking technology is emerging that could revolutionize the way doctors predict heart attacks. By applying artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to millions of CT scans, startups like Bunkerhill Health, Nanox.AI, and HeartLung Technologies are harnessing the power of data to uncover early signs of heart disease. According to Dr. David Faxon, a cardiologist at the University of North Carolina, "The ability to predict who will have a heart attack is one of the biggest challenges in cardiology." However, with AI-powered screening, researchers believe they can identify patients whose high risk for a heart attack is hiding in plain sight. Last year, an estimated 20 million Americans underwent chest CT scans, often after an event like a car accident or to screen for lung cancer. Yet, many of these scans reveal evidence of coronary artery calcium (CAC), a marker for heart attack risk, that goes unreported. Dedicated testing for CAC remains an underutilized method of predicting heart attack risk. The AI algorithms being developed can analyze millions of CT scans in mere seconds, identifying subtle patterns and anomalies that may indicate a patient's increased risk of heart disease. By leveraging this technology, doctors hope to prevent thousands of heart attacks each year. "This is not just about detecting disease; it's about preventing it," said Dr. Faxon. "We're talking about a game-changer here." The use of AI in medical imaging has been gaining momentum in recent years. However, the application of this technology to predict heart attacks raises important questions about implementation and definition. "We need to be careful not to create a system that's overly reliant on technology," warned Dr. Faxon. "We also need to consider how we define disease and what constitutes a 'high-risk' patient." Despite these challenges, researchers remain optimistic about the potential of AI-powered screening. With millions of CT scans analyzed each year, the possibilities for prevention are vast. As one researcher noted, "This technology has the potential to revolutionize public health by applying an old tool in a new way." *Reporting by Technologyreview.*