Caristo Diagnostics, an Oxford University spinout, has developed a revolutionary AI technology that can identify individuals at risk of having a heart attack within the next decade. This technology has been described as “game-changing” by experts because it detects heart inflammation not visible on standard CT scans, which use X-rays and computer analysis.
Supported by NHS England, a pilot project is testing this technology at five hospital trusts in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton. The NHS will decide soon whether to implement it more widely.
The AI system is also being adapted for diabetes and stroke prevention. According to Professor Keith Channon from the University of Oxford, “This technology is groundbreaking because it detects biological processes that are invisible to the human eye, which precede the formation of blockages and narrowings in the heart.”
In the pilot, patients with chest pain who undergo routine CT scans have their images analyzed by Caristo Diagnostics’ CaRi-Heart AI platform. The AI algorithm identifies coronary inflammation and plaque, which is then reviewed by trained professionals.
Increased inflammation is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and fatal heart attacks. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) reports that about 7.6 million people in the UK suffer from heart disease, costing the NHS £7.4 billion annually. Each year, the UK performs around 350,000 cardiac CT scans.
The Orfan study (Oxford Risk Factors and Non-invasive Imaging), which involved 40,000 patients and was published in The Lancet, found that 80% of patients were sent back to primary care without a clear prevention or treatment plan. The study showed that patients with coronary artery inflammation had a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from a cardiac event within the next decade. Using this new AI technology, 45% of these patients were either given medication or advised on lifestyle changes to prevent future heart attacks.
