Artificial intelligence Detect Heart Disease DAIC

Researchers at Stamford Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute are using FDA-cleared algorithms to detect aortic valve calcification (AVC) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) from non-contrast chest CT scans, aiming for early detection of aortic stenosis.
These algorithms analyze CT scans in the background to quantify AVC and CAC, providing early warnings that can prompt cardiologist referrals and surveillance programs for appropriate patients.
Despite existing AVC on chest CT scans, many older patients are not referred for an echocardiogram, potentially missing early detection of aortic stenosis.
Data from Stamford Health’s internal pilot study showed that a significant number of patients with AVC had never received an echocardiogram previously, highlighting a gap in current care protocols.
The algorithms automatically notify ordering physicians of elevated calcification scores and recommend cardiology referrals, which could potentially improve clinical care by leading to earlier interventions.
Additionally, Stamford Health utilizes other AI tools like Heartflow’s FFRCT and the CardioCare Digital Health Platform to enhance their workflows for managing cardiovascular diseases and monitoring patients longitudinally.