AI Detects Heart Disease Early Through Medical Data Analysis
Can advanced mathematical models help detect heart disease before symptoms even appear? Increasingly, the answer is yes. By analyzing data collected during routine medical visits, these models can uncover early warning signs that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“We now have advanced AI tools that allow us to gather and analyze enormous volumes of medical data in ways that weren’t possible before,” explained Nina Goodheart, Senior Vice President and President of the Structural Heart and Aortic division at Medtronic. “Artificial intelligence helps us detect specific heart conditions earlier and enables faster, personalized treatment.”
Take aortic stenosis (AS) as an example—a serious heart valve condition affecting roughly 250,000 Americans each year. In AS, the aortic valve narrows, reducing blood flow from the heart to the body. The symptoms often develop gradually and vary between individuals, making it difficult to diagnose early.
However, every time you visit a doctor, a trail of health data is recorded in your Electronic Health Record (EHR). This data may include lifestyle factors, test results, physician notes, and more. Hidden within that information could be signs of a developing heart issue like AS—but finding them manually is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
That’s where artificial intelligence becomes vital.
“AI helps bring structure to overwhelming and complex health data,” said Chris Rogers, Senior Director of Strategic Provider Solutions at Tempus AI, a Chicago-based company that uses data science to enhance medical diagnostics. “Our algorithms are designed to detect subtle patterns that may not be visible to clinicians reviewing patient records individually.”
Tempus Next, the company’s AI-powered software, uses around 60 advanced algorithms to identify gaps in care for 15 different cardiovascular diseases, including AS. “Medical data is incredibly nuanced,” Rogers noted. “Our technology is built to adapt to the unique context of each healthcare provider, offering insights that are both specific and actionable.”
The software scans your EHR—including physician notes—and matches your health data to established diagnostic criteria for AS. If your data meets enough indicators, the system alerts your healthcare provider, potentially prompting further evaluation or treatment.
This isn’t just a concept—it’s already delivering results.
In a recent collaboration with the John Brancaccio St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center in New York, Tempus Next identified 388 patients who met criteria for AS or another serious heart condition but weren’t yet receiving appropriate treatment. These findings were flagged for doctors, offering a chance for earlier intervention.
Now, Medtronic and Tempus are expanding their work through a new clinical trial called ALERT, which will review patient records from six additional healthcare sites. The study aims to identify not only patients who are being overlooked but also the systemic reasons behind delayed diagnoses—ultimately helping to design better care processes.
“The underdiagnosis of severe aortic stenosis is a widespread issue that can be deadly within two years if untreated,” said Dr. Wayne Batchelor, Interventional Cardiologist and Chair of the ALERT study’s steering committee. “Our goal is to create more timely, equitable treatment pathways and break down the barriers preventing proper care.”
The potential impact of this technology is enormous.
“It’s inspiring to think about what’s possible,” Goodheart said. “We could one day apply this to millions of patients, catching AS before it becomes critical and improving or extending countless lives. The numbers speak for themselves.”
And that’s one kind of math that could truly save lives.
“We now have advanced AI tools that allow us to gather and analyze enormous volumes of medical data in ways that weren’t possible before,” explained Nina Goodheart, Senior Vice President and President of the Structural Heart and Aortic division at Medtronic. “Artificial intelligence helps us detect specific heart conditions earlier and enables faster, personalized treatment.”
Take aortic stenosis (AS) as an example—a serious heart valve condition affecting roughly 250,000 Americans each year. In AS, the aortic valve narrows, reducing blood flow from the heart to the body. The symptoms often develop gradually and vary between individuals, making it difficult to diagnose early.
However, every time you visit a doctor, a trail of health data is recorded in your Electronic Health Record (EHR). This data may include lifestyle factors, test results, physician notes, and more. Hidden within that information could be signs of a developing heart issue like AS—but finding them manually is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
That’s where artificial intelligence becomes vital.
“AI helps bring structure to overwhelming and complex health data,” said Chris Rogers, Senior Director of Strategic Provider Solutions at Tempus AI, a Chicago-based company that uses data science to enhance medical diagnostics. “Our algorithms are designed to detect subtle patterns that may not be visible to clinicians reviewing patient records individually.”
Tempus Next, the company’s AI-powered software, uses around 60 advanced algorithms to identify gaps in care for 15 different cardiovascular diseases, including AS. “Medical data is incredibly nuanced,” Rogers noted. “Our technology is built to adapt to the unique context of each healthcare provider, offering insights that are both specific and actionable.”
The software scans your EHR—including physician notes—and matches your health data to established diagnostic criteria for AS. If your data meets enough indicators, the system alerts your healthcare provider, potentially prompting further evaluation or treatment.
This isn’t just a concept—it’s already delivering results.
In a recent collaboration with the John Brancaccio St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center in New York, Tempus Next identified 388 patients who met criteria for AS or another serious heart condition but weren’t yet receiving appropriate treatment. These findings were flagged for doctors, offering a chance for earlier intervention.
Now, Medtronic and Tempus are expanding their work through a new clinical trial called ALERT, which will review patient records from six additional healthcare sites. The study aims to identify not only patients who are being overlooked but also the systemic reasons behind delayed diagnoses—ultimately helping to design better care processes.
“The underdiagnosis of severe aortic stenosis is a widespread issue that can be deadly within two years if untreated,” said Dr. Wayne Batchelor, Interventional Cardiologist and Chair of the ALERT study’s steering committee. “Our goal is to create more timely, equitable treatment pathways and break down the barriers preventing proper care.”
The potential impact of this technology is enormous.
“It’s inspiring to think about what’s possible,” Goodheart said. “We could one day apply this to millions of patients, catching AS before it becomes critical and improving or extending countless lives. The numbers speak for themselves.”
And that’s one kind of math that could truly save lives.
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