AI Tool Offers Lifespan and Health Risk Predictions Using ECG Data

Summary:
The AI-ECG Risk Estimator (AIRE) is a new AI tool that predicts a person’s mortality risk and potential heart-related health issues, such as heart failure, by analyzing ECG data. Developed by researchers and published in The Lancet Digital Health, AIRE offers more personalized and biologically accurate health risk assessments compared to traditional models. In trials, it detected serious heart conditions like rhythm issues in 76% of cases and atherosclerosis in 70%, enabling early intervention. The UK’s NHS will begin testing AIRE in two hospitals next year, with hopes for wider adoption within five years.

Researchers have developed an advanced AI tool, the AI-ECG Risk Estimator (AIRE), which can assess a person’s risk of mortality and predict serious health issues, such as heart failure, based on a single electrocardiogram (ECG). Detailed in *The Lancet Digital Health*, this AI technology offers a more precise and biologically aligned way to predict health risks than previous models, which often lacked clear, personalized guidance for patients.

The AIRE tool, trained on an extensive dataset of 1.16 million ECGs from nearly 190,000 patients, can detect early signs of heart-related conditions, including serious heart rhythm issues in 76% of cases and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in 70% of cases. This kind of information is crucial for early interventions, as it enables healthcare providers to take proactive measures to prevent or mitigate these risks. For example, if AIRE identifies a high likelihood of a specific heart rhythm disorder, doctors and patients can focus on preventive steps well before the condition worsens.

With the potential to be transformative in healthcare, AIRE is set for trials in two hospitals under the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) starting next year, with hopes for widespread implementation across the NHS within five years. Experts believe that hundreds of patients could soon receive these AI-powered lifespan predictions, giving them actionable insights that could greatly improve their long-term health outcomes.