AI + ECG heart trace can accurately predict diabetes and pre-diabetes

An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm, derived from the features of individual heartbeats recorded on an ECG (electrocardiogram), can accurately predict diabetes and pre-diabetes, suggests preliminary research published in the online journal BMJ Innovations. If validated in larger studies, the approach could be used to screen for the disease in low resource settings, say the researchers. An estimated 463 million adults around the world had diabetes in 2019, and picking up the disease in its early stages is key to preventing subsequent serious health problems. But diagnosis relies heavily on the measurement of blood glucose. This is not only invasive but also challenging to roll out as a mass screening test in low resource settings, point out the researchers.