A groundbreaking AI technology has been developed to identify individuals at risk of a heart attack within the next decade by detecting inflammation in the heart that standard CT scans cannot reveal.

This pilot project, supported by NHS England, is being conducted across five hospital trusts located in Oxford, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Liverpool, and Wolverhampton.

Patients experiencing chest pain in the pilot undergo routine CT scans, which are analyzed using Caristo Diagnostics' CaRi-Heart AI platform to detect coronary inflammation and plaque.

The use of this AI technology has resulted in 45% of patients being prescribed medications or encouraged to adopt lifestyle changes aimed at reducing their future heart attack risks.

Ian Pickford, a participant in the Orfan study, learned he was at high risk for a heart attack and subsequently made significant lifestyle changes after being prescribed statins and advised to quit smoking.

Research indicates that increased inflammation is closely linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks.

Professor Charalambos Antoniades emphasized that this new technology surpasses previous risk assessment tools by accurately pinpointing disease activity before it manifests.

The Orfan study, which involved 40,000 patients, revealed that a staggering 80% were sent back to primary care without a clear prevention or treatment plan.

The study also found that patients with coronary artery inflammation faced a 20 to 30 times higher risk of dying from cardiac events within a decade.

Caristo Diagnostics, an Oxford University spinout, is further developing this technology to also focus on stroke and diabetes prevention.

A decision regarding the broader implementation of this technology within the NHS is anticipated within the coming months.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently reviewing the technology for potential NHS use, while it has already received approval in Europe and Australia.