AI Can Predict Heart Attack or Stroke Death Risk From an X-Ray

The pattern-recognition capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning are rapidly advancing potential new ways to detect health risks early. A new study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and the AI in Medicine program at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston demonstrates how an AI deep learning model can predict the 10-year risk of death from stroke or a heart attack from a single chest X-ray. The researchers presented their findings at the recent Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2022 annual meeting. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, with an estimated 15.2 million deaths globally due to heart attack and stroke in 2019, according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). Early detection of cardiovascular disease gives the opportunity for potentially life-saving interventions and treatments.