AI-Enabled Stethoscope Can Help Cardiologists Diagnose Twice as Many Cases of Heart Failure

An artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled stethoscope can help physicians identify twice as many cases of heart failure compared to usual obstetric care and screening, according to a study published in Nature Medicine and presented at ESC Congress 2024. This study was conducted in Nigeria, where the researchers noted that more women experience pregnancy-related heart failure than anywhere in the world.

In this randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial, researchers analyzed almost 1,200 participants who were screened for heart conditions via typical obstetric care or AI-enhanced solutions. The researchers assessed AI-supported screening and digital stethoscopes at three different levels of ejection fraction used in clinical diagnosis. Less than 45% is the cut point for diagnosing peripartum cardiomyopathy, while under 40% suggests heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and has strong evidence in favor of specific medications to reduce symptoms and the risk of death. An ejection fraction of less than 35% signals dangerously low heart pump function that often requires more intense management and intervention.

According to the findings, using AI-based screening with the digital stethoscope and 12-lead ECG detected weak heart function with high accuracy. Within the study cohort, the digital stethoscope helped flag twice as many cases of low ejection fraction <50% and doctors using it were 12-times more likely to identify an ejection fraction <45% as compared to usual care.

“This study provides evidence that we can better detect peripartum cardiomyopathy among women in Nigeria. However, there are more questions to be answered,” says Demilade Adedinsewo, MD, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic and lead investigator of the study via a press release. “Our next steps would be to evaluate usability and adoption of this tool by Nigerian healthcare providers (including doctors and nurses) and importantly, its impact on patient care. Peripartum cardiomyopathy affects approximately 1 in 2,000 women within the U.S. and as many as 1 in 700 African American women. Evaluating this AI tool in the U.S. will further test its abilities in varied populations and healthcare settings.”