An artificial intelligence (AI) test that can detect heart disease in 20 seconds is to be disseminated across the NHS after a successful pilot at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London.
The test analyses heart MRI scans as they happen, compared to the 13 minutes it takes for a doctor to check them manually under the existing system. In addition, the typical two to four-week waiting time for the result could be reduced by about a third. Also, the number of misclassifications could be about half, meaning patients can receive more suitable treatments.
For now, radiologists using the AI tool will continue to double-check the results and write up the report themselves, but the diagnosis will be completed much quicker as the underlying analysis will have already been done.
Each year, around 120,000 heart MRI scans are performed in the UK. Researchers say that the AI will free up valuable time of healthcare staff – saving around 3,000 “clinician days” every year – so their attention can be directed to seeing more patients on NHS waiting lists, which will ultimately help with the backlog in vital heart care.
The AI tool is being used at University College London Hospital, St Bartholomew’s Hospital and Royal Free Hospital. It will be rolled out in 40 hospitals and clinics in the UK, Europe and US from the summer.
It is believed in the next five to 10 years, the waiting time will speed up even more, as human input may be dropped altogether in favour of an AI-only analysis.
