Atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder, is one of the leading causes of stroke and other serious complications. According to Dr. Lê Hiền Cẩm Thu, Head of Cardiology Department 3 at Nguyễn Trãi Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City), early detection of atrial fibrillation plays a crucial role in reducing mortality rates and improving patients’ quality of life.
The Role of AI Technology in Atrial Fibrillation Screening
Traditionally, atrial fibrillation screening relied on conventional methods such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) or clinical monitoring. However, not all patients exhibit clear symptoms, making continuous monitoring challenging, especially for the elderly or post-stroke individuals.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has revolutionized the analysis of ECG signals to detect abnormal heart rhythms. The AI Afib model, developed by Nguyễn Trãi Hospital in collaboration with smart wearable devices, achieves 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity, enabling accurate atrial fibrillation screening.
How the Device Works
According to Dr. Hà Minh Châu, Deputy Head of Neurology, ECG signals from the wearable device are transmitted directly to a smartphone via Bluetooth and then sent to a central server. Here, AI analyzes the data and issues alerts if abnormalities are detected.
The compact and user-friendly device allows patients to continuously monitor their health without frequent hospital visits. This not only reduces the workload for doctors but also helps detect hidden signs of atrial fibrillation early.
Practical Benefits for Patients
Nguyễn Quốc Hải (a resident of Bình Thạnh District, Ho Chi Minh City), a patient at Nguyễn Trãi Hospital, shared: “Thanks to this wearable device, I feel much more reassured because I can monitor my heart rate continuously without frequent hospital visits.”
Dr. Nguyễn Văn Sĩ, leader of the AI Afib research team, explained that the model was built using data from nearly 400,000 ECG recordings from various patients, ensuring accurate identification of atrial fibrillation patterns.
Toward Community Health Care
The AI Afib model not only supports doctors by reducing their workload but also aims to promote community health care by proactively screening atrial fibrillation in high-risk groups. This solution is particularly suitable for deployment at local health stations, where human resources are limited.
Dr. Lê Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of Nguyễn Trãi Hospital, emphasized that this is just the beginning of applying AI to screen for cardiovascular diseases. In the future, the hospital plans to expand the model to other fields to enhance health care efficiency.
Conclusion
The application of artificial intelligence in atrial fibrillation screening represents a significant advancement in healthcare, offering new opportunities for stroke prevention and reducing severe complications. Learn more about this technology and vote for the 5th Vietnam Medical Achievement Award via text message or the official website to help spread awareness of this innovative initiative.
Source: dantri.com.vn
