Written by Aminu Mohammed
Cardiovascular disease is a significant global health issue and is responsible for the deaths of millions of people every year. It affects the heart and afflicts millions of individuals. The statistics on deaths due to heart ailments have continued to increase over the years, particularly in developed and developing countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are one of the major cause of death worldwide with approximately 17.9 million people losing their lives annually. The primary causes of death could be attributed to stroke and heart attack.
Developing countries have been hit the hardest by deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases which places a substantial burden on their economies especially in Africa. The rise in heart diseases among the population in Africa has become a barrier to its socio-economic development due to the increased healthcare costs. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in, e.g., Nigeria and other countries in sub-Sahara Africa has become a concern for governments.
The rapid increase in population and urbanization in Nigeria has led to high incidence of cardiovascular diseases among the populace. Many adults in the country are currently battling heart ailments, especially high blood pressure and stroke. In some instances, affected individuals are unable to access affordable treatment, leading them to forgo medication. This issue is further exacerbated by the lack of adequate cardiologists and cardiac specialists, who are not easily accessible to both inhabitants of urban centers and remote communities, as many have left for better wages in North America and Europe.
Cardiovascular diseases are conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and hypertension, among others. These ailments are often caused by poor eating habits, alcohol and tobacco consumption as well as lack of physical exercise. It can manifest in symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and rapid heartbeat. If left untreated, these conditions could lead to stroke, heart attack and death.
Use of artificial intelligence in management of heart diseases
Artificial intelligence is considered as a game changer in the field of cardiology, especially in the detection and management of cardiovascular diseases. Its ability to analyze large amounts of data and predict likely outcomes helps medical doctors make informed decisions about diseases. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning tools provide significant benefits to health institutions and practitioners in treating patients with heart ailments and detecting individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Unlike past medical equipment used in hospitals, artificial intelligence has proven highly effective in detecting hidden heart diseases during screening protocols. It can quickly and accurately identify patients with heart problems, improving ailment management and preventing future heart attacks, strokes and cardiac deaths. This can help doctors make appropriate treatment decisions and prevent untimely patients deaths.
Artificial intelligence has the potential to enhance cardiovascular disease treatment in developing countries, especially in sub-Sahara Africa. It can assist surgeon cardiologists and medical practitioners in diagnosing heart diseases and managing patients in remote locations with limited access to treatment, thereby preventing heart attacks and death.
Impact of artificial intelligence in management of cardiovascular diseases
The electrocardiogram (ECG) test is commonly performed in health settings to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. Artificial intelligence has enhanced the capability of the ECG to accurately detect complex heart conditions unlike before. The use of artificial intelligence-adaptive electrocardiogram can help in early identification of cardiovascular diseases and assist cardiologists in monitoring patients to prevent premature death.
The Mayo Clinic in the United States of America has developed artificial intelligence- algorithms and tools that enable the ECG to accurately identify the likelihood of individuals being prone to heart diseases such as amyloidosis, aortic stenosis and peripartum cardiomyopathy, among others. The affordable artificial intelligence tool can accurately determine individuals at risk of certain heart ailment such as atrial fibrillation, low ejection fraction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Shukun technology, a start-up company in China has developed an artificial intelligence tool to assist in diagnosing patients with coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases. The artificial intelligence-enabled diagnostic device, called Digital body accurately diagnoses and detects heart ailments, providing cardiologists with timely and precise information to devise better ways to provide individualised service. The device is currently in use in 13 medical centres in Jiangsu province, China, and has led to a reduction in patient screening costs of up to 1.5 million dollars last year.
In an effort to improve access to healthcare for rural communities, Cardio Intelligence, a Japanese firm has developed an artificial intelligence –enabled tool called Smart Robin to provide support to patients in remote areas who cannot afford diagnosis and treatment. Smart Robin is a software device for electrocardiogram analysis and diagnosis, providing accurate detection of atrial fibrillation, a rapid heartbeat that may lead to stroke if not treated promptly. This device reduces patient waiting times at hospitals and enables timely treatment while also alleviating the workload of medical professionals. Smart Robin is currently being used in many medical centres in Japan and can help bridge the gap in medical screening for patients in remote areas lacking access to cardiologists and cardiac specialists.
Challenges
Artificial intelligence has shown to be highly beneficial in assisting cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in performing their work effectively and accurately. However, there are concerns that the increasing use of various devices and artificial intelligence tools may lead to a reduced need for doctors, potentially impacting the doctor-patient relationship. Additionally, there are apprehensions about transparency and data privacy. Patients are worried about the privacy of their medical records, especially in health institutions, as there is a risk of misuse of information.
It is important to note that artificial intelligence has the potential to reduce the cost of diagnosing of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in low income countries. This could make screening tests more accessible to people in remote communities especially in Africa.
In an efforts to bring succor for low-income patients in sub-Sahara Africa, MI4People is partnering with THM (University of Applied Sciences Central Hessen) and Justus Liebig University Giessen, to develop a free AI-enabled ECG-tool for Africa. The purpose of this tool is to analyze ECG data and provide effective diagnosis of heart diseases for patients in Africa. It will enable medical practitioners and health personnel to accurately detect and diagnose heart ailments. This system is expected to be launched before the end of 2024. This innovation will greatly improve health care services, particularly in remote areas of Africa where access to proper diagnosis is limited due to a shortage of cardiac specialists.
Future prospects
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence has the potential to bring significant advancements to the field of cardiology. This has become increasingly evident as artificial intelligence tools can not only identify and prevent heart diseases but also aid in patient examinations and complete treatment. It is clear that artificial intelligence will help ensure that patients in low-income countries in Africa have access to affordable diagnostic tools for heart diseases. This is believed to lead to improved healthcare services and treatments for patients with heart ailments in the long run.
We at MI4People commit to fostering this development and make AI-enabled medicine available also for people in low-income countries! If you like to support this cause, please contact our MD Paul Springer (paul.springer@mi4people.org) or make a donation via Betterplace.org (for German citizens) or via Better.Giving (for US citizens). Together we can make this world a better place for all of us!
With greetings
MI4People team
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