New York: Applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to a widely available, inexpensive test can help detect a heart condition that is a precursor to heart failure, according to a new study. Using AI with the electrocardiogram (ECG) results in a simple, affordable early indicator of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction which is typically diagnosed with expensive and less accessible imaging tests, such as echocardiograms, CT or MRI scans, researchers from Minnesota's Mayo Clinic said. Asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction is characterised by the presence of a weak heart pump with a risk of overt heart failure which is associated with reduced quality of life and longevity. The study found that AI applied to a standard ECG reliably detects asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. "The ability to acquire a ubiquitous, easily accessible, inexpensive recording in 10 seconds - the EKG - and to digitally process it with AI to extract new information about previously hidden heart disease holds great promise for saving lives and improving health," the Mayo Clinic's Paul Friedman said.

A Mayo Clinic study finds that applying artificial intelligence (AI) to a widely available, inexpensive test--the electrocardiogram (EKG) - results in a simple, affordable early indicator of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, which is a precursor to heart failure. The research team found that the AI/EKG test accuracy compares favorably with other common screening tests, such as mammography for breast cancer. The findings were published in Nature Medicine. Asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction is characterized by the presence of a weak heart pump with a risk of overt heart failure. It affects 7 million Americans, and is associated with reduced quality of life and longevity.