SKĐS - According to WHO, heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with over 17.9 million deaths each year. In Vietnam, the incidence of heart failure is increasing and poses many dangerous complications.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital stated that the hospital has researched the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in cardiac ultrasound and has become the first hospital in Vietnam to implement this method.

According to Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Bình – Chairman of the Scientific Council of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, the cardiology department receives about 600 patients daily, over 15,000 patients each month, including 1,600-1,700 cases of heart failure. Notably, the number of cases of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction accounts for about 600-700 cases.

This condition is considered a diagnostic challenge because the heart's ejection fraction remains within normal limits, yet patients exhibit other serious abnormalities. The ultrasound and testing processes are time- and labor-intensive, so many cases may be missed.

AI applications in cardiac ultrasound help save time and increase accuracy. Photo: P.T.

"Currently there are still many patients with concerning hidden risks. Thanks to AI, we expect to supplement diagnosis for 20% of cases of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction that were previously missed," said the Chairman of the Scientific Council of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.

Associate Professor Dr. Lê Minh Khôi – Head of the Cardiovascular Imaging Unit, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital said that AI can significantly reduce the diagnostic time from 35-40 minutes to about 10 minutes. This helps relieve the workload for medical staff, reduces errors, and saves treatment costs.

To date, more than 120 cardiac ultrasound cases at the hospital have been tested using AI and have yielded very good diagnostic results.

Associate Professor Dr. Lê Minh Khôi emphasized: "For AI to work effectively, it is crucial to have appropriate and complete input data, as well as to correctly perform the cardiac image slices".

According to Prof. Dr. Trương Quang Bình, the application of AI is a breakthrough in the plan to build and digitize healthcare, contributing to better management of heart failure patients in particular, and cardiovascular diseases in general.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital has built experience in managing heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, and has spread the management model to 5-6 other centers, with more than 2,000 people participating in research and monitoring.

Currently, 120 patients have been diagnosed using AI technology at Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. Photo: P.T.

It is expected that, in the first half of 2025, the hospital will focus on managing additional heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction, while also standardizing the diagnostic process with AI assistance. To manage patients from clinical examination to the community, AI tools are a crucial key, enabling accurate diagnosis from the start.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Hoàng Định – Deputy Director of the University Medical and Pharmacy Hospital Ho Chi Minh City said that after obtaining clear research results on the effectiveness of AI application in cardiac ultrasound, the hospital will propose an appropriate mechanism so that this technique can be supported or reimbursed by health insurance. This is a long‑term goal, demonstrating the hospital’s determination to bring modern technology closer to patients.

According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, accounting for about 17.9 million deaths each year. In Vietnam, the proportion of heart failure patients, especially those with preserved ejection fraction, is increasing, leading to many challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

Heart failure is also the final stage of many other cardiovascular diseases, with a readmission rate within three months of up to 60% and a high mortality rate. Therefore, the application of AI in cardiac ultrasound is a potential solution for early detection and treatment, before the disease progresses and causes serious complications.

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