Using AI to measure heart function and improve diagnosis of heart failure

A2003114

Pacemakers are an effective treatment for slow heart rates which improve symptoms and save lives. However, for some people, pacemakers can cause heart failure because of the unnatural way in which they stimulate heart beats.

In several studies conducted in West Yorkshire, it has been shown that around a third of patients with pacemakers have undiagnosed heart failure. When heart failure is discovered, treating it with safe and inexpensive medications reduces the chances of being admitted to hospital or dying. However, detecting HF requires an echocardiogram (a heart ultrasound scan) which takes around 45 minutes and requires a skilled technician.

A new approach is needed. Dr Sam Straw and this team think that a hand-held echocardiogram can measure heart function using artificial intelligence (AI) as accurately as a standard echocardiogram done by a skilled technician. This would speed up diagnosis and provide more equitable access to life-saving treatments.

Lead Researcher	Dr Sam Straw NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Cardiology Registrar
Co-Researchers	Dr Maria Paton Dr John Gierula Dr Klaus Witte
Host Organisation	Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Grant Amount	£48,528.98
Start Date	02/06/2025
Estimated Duration	13 months
Impact Areas	Innovation & Health Technologies
Tags/key notes	Cardiovascular Early Career Researchers