New algorithm detects the risk of sudden cardiac death

It is a method that detects the morphological variations of the T-wave in the electrocardiogram, thus improving the predictive value of the risk of sudden death in patients. It is also an algorithm whose specific purpose is to identify the risk of sudden death, according to the new study (in Spanish) promoted by the Aragon Engineering Research Institute (I3A) and led by the researcher Julia Ramírez.

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Amazon aims to compete with Google in health AI

A group of Amazon scientists and engineers gathered in an internal conference to make big dreams come true, Business Insider reports (link in German). The event focused on machine learning. It’s a powerful form of artificial intelligence that has already transformed the business of Amazon and other tech giants. The special thing about the meeting was the focus was on ML possibilities in the medical field. For example, it was about how the use of ML can revolutionize drug research, clinical trials and genomics, i.e. DNA research. Business Insider has documents that shed light on the topics, goals, and challenges discussed. They show Amazon’s ambitions to compete with Google’s AI company DeepMind. That could make Amazon a serious player in the future of the medical industry.

Top 2023 trends in emotional AI analysed

The purpose of emotional AI is to monitor, analyze, interpret, record, and, in some cases, predict human emotions using machine learning. Emotion AI plays a significant role in the healthcare industry, which has contributed to a marked increase in the market. The top 5 Emotion AI trends for the healthcare industry in 2023 are presented by Analytics Insight: Providing support to autistic individuals In India, one in every 60 children has autism spectrum disorder, and this number is constantly rising. The same pattern may be observed globally. People with autism have difficulty comprehending and interpreting the feelings of others. Video conferencing combined with emotion AI helps autistic people to understand the emotional condition of others.  Psychological Disorders Diagnosis Many humans have displayed signs of distress during the Covid pandemic due to the emotional strain caused by the crisis. By analyzing voice patterns, emotion AI software can assist doctors in diagnosing diseases such as depression and dementia.  Providing assistance to doctors and nurses Patients in crowded waiting rooms can be prioritized by Emotion AI by monitoring facial expressions as to who are in the most discomfort and need immediate help. Doctors can get vital information about the attitude of patients via Emotion AI, especially during virtual consultations. Care during pregnancy During pregnancy, emotional states like stress, anxiety, and anger can increase your risk of miscarriage. Pregnant women can benefit from emotional AI technology that can help gauge their emotional states and take prompt action to address mental disorders. Patient care Patients on long-term medical programs are reminded to take their medications using emotion AI. It also converses with them every day and monitors their overall well-being. Whether they are experiencing problems, expressing their emotions, or feeling lonely, the Nurse bot is willing to listen and help.

Present and future of heart failure reviewed in Spain

Several prominent Spanish cardiologists have participated in a symposium on heart failure, held at SEC22 Heart Health Congress. In the meeting, moderated by Dr Román Freixa Pamias, cardiologist at Hospital de Sant Joan Despi Moises Broggi, the specialists reviewed most popular devices available for patients with heart failure, especially those with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%), as well as the role of ‘the fantastic four’ in the slightly reduced IC-FE. They have also debated whether or not precision medicine is a reality at present, Saludadiario reports (link in Spanish). To patients with HF with the reduced ejection fraction (LVEF ≤ 40%), doctors recommend to administer the four “pharmacological pillars” that have shown reductions in mortality and hospitalizations: neprilysin and angiotensin II receptor inhibitor (ARNI), beta blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (iSGLT2), a treatment that must be optimized early and simultaneously.  However, despite administering optimal medical treatment in patients with heart failure, “there is a residual risk of morbidity, mortality and hospitalization that makes the use of devices advisable”, as Dr. Román Freixa commented. The cardiologist emphasized that there is a wide variety of devices approved for the treatment and monitoring of patients with HF . At the symposium, an update was made on the indications and devices used in patients with electrical abnormalities (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, cardiac resynchronization therapy, ablation), structural pathology (transcatheter mitral or tricuspid valve repair), devices for congestion monitoring (intrathoracic impedance, invasive monitoring), cardiac contractility modulation, autonomic modulation (baroreceptor, vagal or spinal cord stimulation) and many others under investigation.

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Willum Þór: The question remains if our healthcare system is sustainable

On January 1st, Iceland took over the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. This intergovernmental organisation plays an important role in promoting innovations, health data integration, and cooperation between all major stakeholders in the Nordic healthcare. The Icelandic Health Minister elaborates on his vision to future health in the Nordic region, the Nordic strengths, Iceland’s plans for the Presidency with regards to health innovations, and the coming collaboration with Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies

CIFS ran an all-day session at the Week of Health and Innovation (WHINN) in Odense

Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies ran an all-day session at the annual Week of Health and Innovation (WHINN) in Odense, Denmark. CIFS’ program attracted over 40 experts from health and data organisations. We presented strategic foresight and futures studies in the health sector, concepts that are used to reimagine the future of the health sector, such as the Humanome and decentralised clinical trials. Also, we had a panel discussion on the newly started Phase V project on decentralised clinical trials, where CIFS is a contributing partner

New HIMSS book out on blockchain in healthcare

The HIMSS Series has a new book on blockchain in healthcare. “Blockchain in Healthcare: Innovations that Empower Patients, Connect Professionals, and Improve Care” is the title of the book. According to the book’s authors, Vikram Dhillon, John Bass, Max Hooper, David Metcalf, and Alex Cahana, blockchain technology may hold the greatest potential in healthcare. Some of the first use cases in medical payments, electronic health records, HIPAA/data privacy, and drug counterfeiting have been explored by early pioneers. There is still much work to be done in order to automate the complexities of today’s healthcare systems and design new systems that are focused on trust, transparency, and aligning incentives. In this book, Metcalf, Bass, Hooper, Cahana, and Dhillon have assembled over 50 contributors, including early adopters, thought leaders, and health innovators. They tell their stories and share their knowledge. The videos and transcripts provided by many authors and contributors humanize the technical details and abstract aspects of blockchain. Using the fundamentals of blockchain, the authors curated a collection of future-oriented examples that build on early successes. After a brief introduction to the fundamentals and the protocols available, as well as early blockchain efforts specific to health and healthcare, the authors discuss the promise of smart contracts and protocols to automate complex, distributed processes and some of the early consortiums that are exploring the possibilities. Throughout the book are examples and use cases, with special attention given to the more advanced and far-reaching examples that can be scaled at an industry-level. In addition, a discussion of integrating blockchain technology into other advanced healthcare trends and IT systems – such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, value-based payments, patient engagement solutions, big data solutions, medical tourism, and clinical trials among many others – is presented. The final section provides a glimpse into the future using blockchain technology and examples of research projects that are still in labs across the globe.