A High-Tech Way To Detect Heart Disease
Results published in the August issue of the European Heart Journal revealed that screening for heart problems may be possible using artificial intelligence to analyze faces. While more research is needed before this method will be ready for prime time, the Chinese developers note that certain visual features are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. These include thinning or gray hair, wrinkles, an ear lobe crease and small, yellow deposits of cholesterol underneath the skin, usually around the eyelids as well as other tell-tale features. Research leader Zhe Zheng, vice director of China’s National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, said the ultimate goal is development of a “self-reported application for high risk communities to assess heart disease risk in advance of visiting a clinic. This could be a cheap, simple and effective way to identify patients who need further investigation.”
Source:
Zhe Zheng et al, “Feasibility of using deep learning to detect coronary artery disease based on facial photo.” European Heart Journal, August 20, 2020; DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa640
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