• AI & Machine Learning
• Health Tech

The Impact of AI in Cardiology and Radiology: Embracing the Paradigm Shift in Healthcare

March 01, 2023

• In the United States, more than 500 AI algorithms have been cleared for clinical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• AI in cardiac imaging is a growing field, and it is expected to impact patient care significantly.
•  AI solutions are practical and effective in solving real problems in medicine.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding, and its impact on healthcare cannot be overstated. In the United States, more than 500 AI algorithms have been cleared for clinical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vast majority of these algorithms are used in radiology and cardiology. This indicates how AI is transforming these specialties, and cardiologists and radiologists must learn how these technologies work and embrace their clinical use.

AI in cardiac imaging is a growing field, and it is expected to impact patient care significantly. One AI-based algorithm, fractional flow reserve hemodynamic flow measurements derived from noninvasive CT imaging (FFR-CT), is already included in recent cardiology guidelines in Europe and the United States. This algorithm is based on evidence and is expected to be the first of many AI-driven algorithms in clinical guidelines.

The use of AI in cardiology and radiology is no longer a topic for academic discussion. The reality is that AI has become real, and it is already being used in clinical practice. As a result, cardiologists and radiologists need to upscale their understanding of this technology and be at the forefront of its clinical use.

The seriousness of the AI trend is highlighted by the fact that key opinion leaders in cardiac CT have left their academic and clinical positions to head new AI companies. These leaders believe that AI will continue the paradigm shift in how cardiac patients are treated in the next decade. Their moves have caught the attention of many cardiac CT imagers, indicating the growing importance of AI in the field. This will ensure that AI solutions are practical and effective in solving real medical problems.

While AI has taken a very high-profile front seat at medical conferences, it is essential to note that most commercialized AI applications are for medical imaging. Radiology has the most AI models, with 396, while cardiology is second, with 58. However, many radiology AI algorithms are specific to cardiac imaging. Hematology is a distant third place, with only 14 AI algorithms.

In conclusion, AI is no longer science fiction in cardiology and radiology. With more than 500 FDA-cleared AI medical algorithms available in the United States, it is clear that AI is transforming these specialties. Cardiologists and radiologists must understand how AI works and embrace its clinical use. Medical societies and clinicians must direct and nudge industry partners toward practical AI solutions that solve real problems in medicine. AI is shaping the future of healthcare, and it is time for cardiologists and radiologists to be at the forefront of this transformation.