AI-Based System May Prevent Secondary Strokes

A study found that ischemic stroke survivors who received care recommendations from an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system had fewer recurrent strokes. The results were presented as preliminary late-breaking science at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2024.

“This research showed that an [AI]-based clinical decision support system for stroke care was effective and feasible in clinical settings in China and improved patient outcomes,” said lead study author Zixiao Li, MD, PhD, chief physician, professor, and deputy director of neurology at Capital Medical University’s Beijing Tiantan Hospital, via a press release.

In the GOLDEN BRIDGE II trial, 77 hospitals in China were randomly assigned to deliver diagnosis and treatment for ischemic stroke patients using either AI-based system recommendations or assessments and recommendations made by the hospitals’ stroke care team. According to the researchers, the AI system interpreted participants’ brain imaging scans and integrated them with established clinical knowledge for stroke diagnosis, classification, and guideline-recommended treatment, as well as strategies to prevent secondary stroke.

Overall, the study comprised more than 20,000 participants.

Researchers found that using the AI-based decision-making support system reduced the chances of new vascular events by 25.6% during the 3-month period after the initial stroke. It also improved stroke care quality, and patients were more likely to be treated with guideline-directed medical therapy.

“This type of technology aids neurologists by facilitating the sharing of information between humans and AI, using their combined strengths,” Dr. Li said. He added, “In the future, we hope to have more AI applications validated through clinical research and hope that the clinical decision support system can be expanded to include more aspects of stroke care, including reperfusion therapy and long-term secondary prevention, rehabilitation, and so on.”