By Dr Varsha Kiron
The field of cardiology is undergoing significant advancements, which when adopted at scale, can reshape the way we approach heart health and patient care. Over the next decade, the following trends are poised to define the future of cardiology.
Smartwatches and wearable health devices have proliferated significantly, with features like step counting, sleep tracking, activity monitoring, and heart rate measurement being tracked with increasing interest.Recently, several device models have incorporated an electrical sensor that is capable of producing a single lead ECG.This has made this identification of many dangerous cardiac rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation much easier because of the continuous, valuable data feed being generated.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are poised to change the landscape of cardiac diagnostics. AI algorithms can detect conditions like atrial fibrillation through smartwatches, interpret chest X-rays for infections or cancer, interpret ECGs and estimate left ventricular ejection fraction (a measure of the heart’s pumping effectiveness) from echocardiography images.Early studies have shown many of these AI-based diagnostic interpretation tools to outperform manual interpretation at scale as well.
Generative AI is aiding healthcare providers in diagnosing and treating cardiac conditions. These tools can help analyse symptoms to provide differential diagnoses, scan and update medical history, interpret diagnostic, help with risk assessment and even assist in creation of a care plan. The advantage that language models offer is analysing vast amounts of patient data quickly and accurately and make inferences which may often get missed by a human care provider.
Digital therapeutics (DTx) apps are transforming how patients manage their conditions. These apps enable patient education, adherence to doctor’s advice, monitoring of parameters, escalation of provide support and the ability to book medical services. Especially useful in conditions like heart failure that require continuous review, DTx can help hospitals deploy resources much more efficiently and help patients improve their ability to self-care.
5G connected ambulances can be game changers in saving lives and buying additional time in emergency situations like heart attack and stroke.Ambulances are now being connected with patient monitoring devices that can transmit real-time patient data to hospital ER departments along with video feed.This can enable ER teams to manage care in-transit including administration of rapid diagnostic tests, medical treatment and even stabilisation en-route.5G technology has low latency and the ability to connect to a larger number of devices compared to its predecessors, thereby offering better seamless connectivity
Advancements in imaging technology are helping visualise treatment better as well as reduce radiation exposure for both patient and clinicain.The use of technologies like ultrasound and transesophageal echo (TEE) are reducing the need for X-Ray imaging (fluoroscopy) during cardiac procedures thereby reducing radiation exposure. Some centers are introducing interventional MRI suites, eliminating radiation entirely during lengthy procedures.The integration of computed tomography (CT) and echo imaging is enhancing pre-procedural planning and guidance.Advanced cardiac MRI and 3D electrophysiology mapping are more examples where very high-quality 3D renditions of the heart can help doctors plan procedures much better. CT FFR (fractionalflow reserve) calculation avoids the need for invasive angiogram to decide on the need for stents/bypass surgery
COVID-19 has spurred a number of innovations in technology as well as business models that enable contactless care and monitoring. Availability of biosensors patches made the idea of remote e-ICUs a reality wherein a wide variety of vital signs like body weight, BP, heart rhythm, oxygen saturation and continuous ECG can be monitored remotely by a physician.There is also technology available to measure the level of fluid accumulation in the chest region (through an approach called thoracic impedance) that can provide a cheap and viable solution for patients of heart failure to track their condition.Furthermore, care in hospital also can be enhanced through technologies like ballisto-cardiography (BCG) which records ultra-low-frequency vibrations of the heart during various phases of cardiac cycle and captures critical data such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and arrhythmia.
Another trend brought about by COVID-19 is the localisation of business and home-based service.Home-based rehabilitation programs are seeing an upward trend.Patients can now avail of a home-recovery programs involving nurse, doctor and physio visits that help patients manage post-surgery recovery, medication adherence, parameter monitoring, ensure controlled mobilisation while being part of a care continuum initiated by the cardiologist / cardiac surgeon.Wearable devices can also help the doctor track the progress of a patient’s parameters under medical supervision.Home-based care enhances patient comfort, can reduce costs and allows individuals to actively participate in their treatment plans. It promotes long-term wellness and independence.It also helps medical professionals increase the number of patients they can care for and prioritise care better.
Dr Varsha Kiron, Consultant Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad
(DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETHealthworld.com does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETHealthworld.com shall not be responsible for any damage caused to any person/organisation directly or indirectly).
