UK researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can scan retinal images for predicting someone’s risk of heart disease. This medical breakthrough could help in predicting a person’s risk of “silent killer” heart diseases without the need for blood tests or blood pressure checks.
This innovative technique involves scanning arteries and veins of the retina using a camera that runs on AI-powered software. The research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology has put forward a way for quick and cheap cardiovascular screenings.
“This AI tool could let someone know in 60 seconds or less their level of risk,” the lead author of the study, Alicja Rudnicka.
QUARTZ (Quantitative Analysis of Retinal vessels Topology and size)
This retinal scanning system is called QUARTZ. Researchers foresee that this development could make the diagnosis process of heart disease more accessible and affordable than ever. Unlike traditional heart-health checkup methods that are quite time-consuming, QUARTZ quickly delivers the results with same accuracy as blood tests.
Researchers considered the relationship between retinal features and conditions such as diabetes or coronary artery disease. They used computerized systems that can make out minute differences in a person’s retinal vasculature researchers. All the required factors are then evaluated by AI-based software to predict the onset of disorders such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.
