Trial suggests AI stethoscopes can be 'real game-changer,' potentially enabling earlier treatment for patients with heart failure, heart valve disease, abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation
AI-powered stethoscopes can detect three types of heart conditions within seconds, researchers said.
Invented in 1816 to listen to the body’s internal sounds, the traditional stethoscope has now been "upgraded for the 21st century" and trialed in a pilot in over 200 London GP surgeries, Sky News reported on Saturday.
The trial, which was conducted by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, suggests that AI stethoscopes could be a "real game-changer," potentially enabling earlier treatment for patients with heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation.
Researchers found that patients who benefited from the new technology were 2.3 times more likely to have heart failure detected within the next 12 months compared to those who did not benefit from the technology.
The use of the stethoscopes increased the detection of abnormal heartbeat patterns -- which are symptomless but can elevate stroke risk -- by 3.5 times and increased the detection of heart valve disease by 1.9 times.
"This tool could be a real game-changer for patients, bringing innovation directly into the hands of GPs.
"The AI stethoscope gives local clinicians the ability to spot problems earlier, diagnose patients in the community, and address some of the big killers in society," stated Professor Mike Lewis, scientific director for innovation at the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which supported the study.
