London Hospitals Trial AI for Early Type 2 Diabetes Detection

Two NHS hospital trusts located in London are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to investigate its capacity to identify type 2 diabetes in patients up to a decade before the condition manifests. Imperial College and Chelsea and Westminster hospital NHS foundation trusts have initiated the training of an AI system, named Aire-DM, which examines patients’ ECG heart traces for subtle early warning signs that are difficult for medical professionals to detect otherwise. Clinical trials are slated for 2025 to ascertain if the system performs as effectively as anticipated. Initial findings suggest the system can identify risk approximately 70% of the time. According to lead researcher Dr Fu Siong Ng, providing the AI with additional details about other background risk factors, such as a patient’s age, sex, and whether they already have high blood pressure or are overweight, can enhance its predictive accuracy. He informed BBC News: “It is already quite good just with the ECG data, but it is even better when you add in those.” An ECG (electrocardiogram) records the heart’s electrical activity and can reveal issues with its rate and rhythm. Dr Ng states that the ECG changes the system identifies are too varied and subtle for even highly skilled doctors to interpret visually. He explained: “It’s not as simple as saying it’s this or that bit of the ECG. It’s looking at a combination of subtle things.” As part of the trial, up to 1,000 patients at both hospitals will have their ECG scans analyzed by the AI system to determine its utility in detecting and predicting the disease. While not yet routinely offered, experts hope it could be more widely implemented across the NHS. Dr Ng suggests this could take five years or more. The British Heart Foundation, which is providing funding for this work, asserts that identifying individuals at risk of diabetes could ultimately save lives. Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, for example, can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Maintaining a healthy weight, consuming a healthy diet, and exercising can help protect against complications. Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This exciting research uses powerful artificial intelligence to analyse ECGs, revealing how AI can spot things that cannot usually be observed in routinely collected health data. This kind of insight could be a gamechanger in predicting future risk of developing type 2 diabetes, years before the condition begins.” “Type 2 diabetes is a rapidly growing health challenge that increases the risk of developing heart disease, however with the right support it is possible for people to reduce their risk of developing the condition. We look forward to seeing how this technology could be incorporated into clinical practice.” Dr Faye Riley from Diabetes UK said: “Type 2 diabetes often goes undiagnosed, sometimes for many years. With 1.2 million people in England alone unaware they’re living with the condition and millions more at high risk of developing it, identifying those at risk early on is crucial.” “AI-powered screening methods offer a promising new way to spot those likely to develop type 2 diabetes years in advance, allowing them to access the right support and prevent serious complications, such as heart failure and sight loss.” Type 2 diabetes is a common condition where the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood becomes excessively high. This occurs if the body cannot produce enough of, or cannot correctly utilize, a hormone called insulin, which regulates blood sugar. Some cases are associated with being overweight. This is because fat can accumulate within and around the pancreas, the organ responsible for insulin production. Conversely, Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.