AI Stethoscope Boosts Early Heart Disease Diagnosis by Over 200% in UK Trials

A groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) stethoscope, developed by British doctors, can detect major heart conditions in just 15 seconds, significantly improving early diagnosis rates. Clinical trials have shown that patients examined with the device were 2 to 3 times more likely to receive an early diagnosis for critical cardiac issues.

The device, a collaboration between researchers at Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, targets heart failure, heart valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms, including atrial fibrillation. Dr. Patrik Bächtiger of Imperial College London stated, "The design of the stethoscope has been unchanged for 200 years – until now. So it is incredible that a smart stethoscope can be used for a 15-second examination, and then AI can quickly deliver a test result."

The TRICORDER study, a real-world trial involving over 12,700 patients across 200 general practitioner (GP) surgeries in the UK, demonstrated remarkable efficacy. Patients assessed with the AI stethoscope were 2.33 times more likely to be diagnosed with heart failure, 3.45 times more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and 1.92 times more likely to be diagnosed with heart valve disease within 12 months compared to those receiving standard care.

Manufactured by US-based Eko Health, the AI stethoscope captures heart sounds and simultaneously records a single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). This data is then sent to the cloud for analysis by AI algorithms trained on extensive patient data, with results delivered to a smartphone. Dr. Mihir Kelshiker of Imperial highlighted the impact, noting, "Most people with heart failure are only diagnosed when they arrive in A&E seriously ill. This trial shows that AI-enabled stethoscopes could change that."

Early diagnosis is crucial for these conditions, enabling timely intervention and potentially life-saving treatments before patients become critically unwell. Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the research, remarked, "This is an elegant example of how the humble stethoscope... can be upgraded for the 21st century." While the technology shows immense promise, researchers noted that approximately 70% of GP practices in the trial stopped regular use after 12 months, suggesting a need for better integration into daily clinical workflows. The device is intended for patients with suspected symptoms, not for routine checks on healthy individuals.