Researchers have improved an AI tool that helps find people at risk for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)—a condition where the heart muscle becomes too thick and may lead to heart failure.
This AI tool, called Viz HCM, was already approved by the US FDA to detect signs of HCM using an electrocardiogram (ECG). But now, a new study by Mount Sinai Hospital in New York has made the tool even more helpful by adding clear risk scores.
Before, the tool would only say things like “high risk of HCM” or “possible HCM.” Now, it can say something like, “You have a 60% chance of having HCM.” This helps doctors and patients better understand the risk and take action earlier.
Dr. Joshua Lampert, the lead author of the study, explained that this improvement allows doctors to give faster and more personalized care. It can also help prevent serious issues like sudden cardiac death.
The AI tool was tested on nearly 71,000 patients who had ECGs between March 2023 and January 2024. Out of those, 1,522 patients were flagged for possible HCM. After checking patient records and heart scans, researchers confirmed which ones actually had the disease. They found the calibrated AI model gave very accurate risk estimates.
Dr. Girish N. Nadkarni, one of the senior researchers, said this update is a big step forward. It shows that AI tools can be used responsibly in real-life medical care—not just in labs. The tool now helps doctors focus on the highest-risk patients first, which can improve outcomes.
Mount Sinai also shared that HCM affects 1 in every 200 people worldwide and is a leading cause of heart transplants. Many people don’t know they have it until it’s already serious, so early detection with tools like this is important.
This AI upgrade means better care, clearer answers for patients, and a smarter way to use technology in hospitals.
Source: theengineer
