Artificial intelligence stethoscope detects heart disease in seconds

1. An artificial intelligence stethoscope diagnosed heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and valve disease within 15 seconds.

2. In nearly twelve thousand patients, detection was up to three times higher than routine exams.

Results presented on August 30 at the European Society of Cardiology congress highlighted a trial of nearly 12,000 patients using an artificial intelligence enabled stethoscope, covered in The Guardian. The device doubled detection of heart failure, tripled detection of atrial fibrillation, and nearly doubled recognition of clinically significant valve disease. A British Heart Foundation update confirmed these performance figures and stressed that the test adds only seconds to the physical exam. By recording heart sounds and a single-lead electrocardiogram, the stethoscope sends data to the cloud for rapid interpretation. With heart failure affecting more than 64 million people globally, earlier diagnosis can prevent hospital admissions and reduce mortality. Physicians in primary care reported that the tool allowed immediate triage decisions rather than delayed referrals. Some cautioned that false positives remain possible, so protocols should limit use to symptomatic patients rather than broad screening. The device’s simplicity makes it appealing for urgent care and outpatient settings with limited access to echocardiography. If approved widely, regulators may need to update training standards to incorporate digital auscultation. For cardiologists, this represents a shift in how frontline clinicians contribute to early detection. The broader implication is that artificial intelligence can transform the humble stethoscope into a real-time diagnostic partner. This step shows how small innovations at the bedside can alter entire care pathways.

Image: PD

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