Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust are taking part in a wider NHS study, trialling the use of AI scanners to help reduce hospital readmissions for people with heart failure, also allowing patients to manage their condition at home.
Developed by the medical technology manufacturer, Heartfelt Technologies, the scanner is an at-home device that takes “thousands of detailed images” of patients as they get in and out of bed. Said to detect the build-up of fluid in their legs, a known cause of swelling called oedema, the trust notes is “a sign that their heart failure is getting worse”.
If the scanner does detect this type of swelling, it then sends an alert to the trust’s cardiology team, after which a heart failure nurse contacts the patient for further assessment. Some patients are given the opportunity to use the AI scanner for up to six months at home, with others given their usual care to give researchers a clearer picture of how well the device is working when it comes to reducing hospital admissions.
Sharing details on the importance of this trial, the study’s local lead and consultant cardiologist at BHRUT, Dr Francesco Papalia, said: “Heart failure is a serious long-term condition that often leads to repeat hospital stays. If we can detect problems earlier using technology like this, we have a much better chance of treating patients before their symptoms worsen.”
By getting involved with this study, BHRUT joins 30 other trusts with more than 200 participants across the NHS. This follows a similar initiative the trust has been involved with lately, where they have been using AI and imaging tools to reduce waiting times for x-ray results and support cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Digital tech in cardiovascular healthcare: the wider trend
Last month, the EuroHeartPath project was launched, bringing together 35 partners from academia, industry and health, to help tansform cardiovascular care through 18 pioneering pathfinder studies focusing on AI and machine learning, digital health integration, point-of-care diagnostics, and advanced robotic technologies. The project is set to take place over a five-year period with a €27 million budget, optimising care pathways in 15 EU countries.
The Royal Papworth Charity’s Innovation Fund is supporting a PhD study, which explores the use of wearables in monitoring patients with congenital heart disease. Researchers will be assessing accuracy in estimations of peak VO₂ levels during everyday activities to allow for earlier intervention in cases of deterioration.
Earlier this year, British Heart Foundation awarded nearly £230k to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, to help with the continued development of an algorithm, which records “key patient data” such as blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and potential side effects. The ultimate aim is to generate personalised medication recommendations through a “user-friendly smartphone app” known as the Appitrator app, which is being developed to help clinicians make more “informed medication decisions” and “improve the consistency of care” for their patients.
