The preventive healthcare landscape is being steered primarily by AI. With early diagnosis and prevention taking centre stage in this era, AI has paved inroads into medical imaging, playing a pivotal role in expediting diagnosis and in turn improving patient outcomes. Speed, accuracy, timely decision-making, as well as lesser dependency on radiologists in resource-depleted regions, are a few of the many advantages of AI in diagnostic imaging. Dr Bilal Thangal talks about the transformative impact of AI in medical imaging enabling early detection of cardiovascular diseases
By Sonali Patranabish
AI has proved to be a key diagnostic tool in the era of preventive medicine. How does AI-driven diagnosis help HCPs in cardiovascular disease monitoring?
AI-driven diagnosis has revolutionised cardiovascular disease monitoring by enabling early detection, improving clinical decision-making, and enhancing preventive care. By identifying subtle patterns in medical imaging, such as echocardiograms or CT scans, that may escape human observation, AI allows healthcare professionals to diagnose conditions at a much earlier stage. This early detection is critical in preventing disease progression and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, AI tools help prioritise high-risk patients, streamlining workflows and allowing healthcare providers to focus on cases requiring immediate attention, thereby reducing the burden on medical staff.
Furthermore, predictive analytics powered by AI enables healthcare professionals to anticipate potential cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes, and plan timely interventions. These capabilities not only enhance patient care but also support the broader goals of preventive medicine by reducing the incidence and severity of cardiovascular diseases.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By identifying subtle patterns in medical imaging, such as echocardiograms or CT scans, that may escape human observation, AI allows healthcare professionals to diagnose conditions at a much earlier stage
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AI has significantly contributed to digital radiology and imaging. Could you throw some light on AI-assisted diagnosis in the screening, prevention, and early detection of cardiovascular diseases?
AI has significantly advanced digital radiology and imaging, playing a transformative role in the screening, prevention, and early detection of cardiovascular diseases. By enhancing image quality and enabling detailed analysis, AI systems ensure precise detection of plaques, blockages, and structural abnormalities that may indicate underlying cardiovascular conditions. These advanced imaging capabilities are particularly impactful in identifying high-risk conditions such as coronary artery disease, even in asymptomatic patients, thereby supporting proactive preventive care.
Moreover, AI-driven tools automate critical measurements, such as ejection fraction and calcium scoring, which are essential for evaluating heart function and assessing the risk of cardiovascular events. This automation not only ensures a higher level of accuracy and precision but also streamlines the diagnostic process, enabling faster and more reliable decision-making. By integrating these capabilities, AI empowers healthcare professionals to address cardiovascular diseases effectively, with a focus on early intervention and improved patient outcomes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AI-driven tools automate critical measurements, such as ejection fraction and calcium scoring, which are essential for evaluating heart function and assessing the risk of cardiovascular events
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NURA's AI-driven diagnosis makes use of ULTRA low-dose CT, one of your flagship services. How will this technology benefit patients and clinicians concerning monitoring cardiovascular diseases?
At NURA we offer significant benefits for both patients and clinicians in monitoring cardiovascular diseases. By minimising radiation exposure, this advanced imaging technique ensures that regular screenings are safer for patients, particularly those requiring ongoing monitoring. The high-resolution imaging capabilities allow for the precise detection of critical
conditions, such as coronary calcifications and other cardiovascular abnormalities, providing clinicians with reliable diagnostic insights. This combination of safety, accuracy, and detailed monitoring facilitates early intervention, promotes better disease management, and ultimately enhances patient outcomes.
Intelligent AI technology is leveraged to enable screening and high-quality imaging at NURA. Can you tell us more about this and your collaboration with Fujifilm Healthcare?
NURA harnesses the power of intelligent AI technology in collaboration with Fujifilm Healthcare to deliver advanced screening and high-quality imaging solutions. By integrating Fujifilm's state-of-the-art imaging technology with sophisticated deep learning algorithms, our technology enhances diagnostic accuracy, allowing for the early detection of critical
health conditions. The partnership brings cutting-edge tools, such as AI-enabled CT scans and precision image processing, into routine clinical practice, elevating the standard of care for patients. Together, NURA and Fujifilm aim to make preventive healthcare more accessible and efficient, addressing the growing demand for early intervention and streamlined diagnostics. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to leveraging innovation in healthcare to improve patient outcomes and advance the paradigm of preventive medicine.
AI-integrated technologies and services are often attached to a myth that they come at a price. How do you rate your services in terms of affordability?
AI-integrated technologies and services, such as those offered by NURA, challenge the myth of being prohibitively expensive by focusing on affordability and accessibility. Aligned with its mission to democratise preventive healthcare, we ensure our services are competitively priced, making advanced diagnostics available to a broader population. By leveraging AI to streamline workflows and enhance operational efficiency, we significantly reduce overhead costs, allowing these savings to benefit patients directly.
Moreover, the emphasis on early detection and prevention delivers exceptional value by addressing potential health issues before they escalate into more serious conditions, ultimately lowering long-term healthcare expenses for individuals. This approach not only makes cutting-edge healthcare accessible but also supports the broader goal of fostering a healthier society.
What plans does NURA have in terms of expansion and strategic investments?
NURA is focussed on an ambitious expansion and investment strategy to bring its AI-enabled screening services to more cities, particularly targeting underserved regions where access to advanced preventive healthcare is limited. As part of its growth plans, NURA intends to invest in upgrading its technology infrastructure by integrating next-generation AI models that further enhance diagnostic precision and efficiency.
Additionally, the organisation is committed to increasing patient awareness about the importance of preventive care through
targeted outreach and education initiatives. Strategic collaborations with industry leaders are also a key component of NURA’s future vision, enabling the scaling of operations while ensuring that the highest standards of quality and affordability are maintained. These efforts reflect NURA’s mission to make cutting-edge, AI-driven healthcare accessible to a wider population and contribute to a more proactive approach to health management.
The integration of AI presents itself with diagnostic challenges like lack of standardisation and regulatory and ethical issues. At NURA, how do you ensure that such limitations do not hamper the precision of results?
At NURA, the integration of AI is meticulously managed to address potential diagnostic challenges such as lack of standardisation, regulatory complexities, and ethical considerations, ensuring precision and reliability in results. Screening protocols are regularly
reviewed and updated to align with global standards and best practices, maintaining consistency and quality across all services. NURA’s AI systems undergo extensive validation using diverse datasets to ensure they perform accurately across different patient demographics and clinical conditions. Ethical considerations are a cornerstone of NURA’s
approach, with stringent measures in place to safeguard patient privacy, ensure transparency in processes, and secure informed consent at every stage of care. By adopting this robust framework, NURA not only mitigates the challenges associated with AI integration but also upholds its commitment to delivering trusted and effective healthcare solutions.