Could AI in cardiovascular care finally transform patient outcomes in Europe?

AI in cardiovascular care is increasingly used across Europe to improve the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Early results are promising, but experts say more clinical evidence is needed to confirm real-world benefits

From analysing imaging scans to predicting patient risk, these AI tools hold significant potential for improving outcomes in one of Europe’s most challenging health concerns. However, researchers advise that, despite rapid technological progress, comprehensive clinical validation remains necessary to ensure tangible patient benefits.

The burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe

In Europe, 62 million people live with cardiovascular disease, and this figure could rise to over 100 million by 2050 due to an ageing population. The disease kills 1.7 million people every year in Europe, more than any other condition.

Implementing AI in cardiovascular care could reduce one in five preventable deaths and enhance early detection and treatment options for millions of Europeans with cardiovascular conditions.

AI in cardiovascular disease: The future of healthcare, but more research is needed

Currently, seven AI tools are used routinely in clinical practice across hospitals in Europe.

One example of AI in cardiovascular care is a tool that automatically performs coronary artery calcium scoring from CT scans, which measure calcium deposits in the heart’s major blood vessels. This is one of the strongest predictors of future heart attacks, and AI performs it with the same accuracy as a specialist radiologist.

AI can also analyse a CT scan of the coronary arteries to estimate whether a narrowed vessel is restricting blood flow to the heart, a technique known as CT-derived fractional flow reserve. This helps clinicians decide which patients need surgery to open the artery and which patients can be safely treated with medication alone.

In acute stroke care, AI can detect a major vessel blockage on a brain CT scan within seconds and automatically alert hospital staff, reducing time to treatment and improving patient outcomes. Additionally, AI tools can detect stroke warning signs by analysing patterns from routine electrocardiogram tests that would be invisible to doctors.

JRC outlines steps to unlock AI’s potential in hospitals

New research from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) noted that there is a huge potential for AI in cardiovascular care and to revolutionise healthcare in various ways. AI enables early detection, speeds up diagnosis and supports personalised healthcare, improving patient outcomes and relieving strain on overstretched healthcare systems.

Nevertheless, the researchers identified several barriers to effective adoption of AI in cardiovascular care and outlined three key actions the EU could take to ensure seamless implementation:

• Putting clinical evidence first. Funding should prioritise independent validation and comparisons between competing tools, not just technical performance. The measure of success should be whether AI improves patient outcomes, care experience, and sustainable costs.
• Investing in infrastructure. Many hospitals lack the IT systems needed to deploy AI. Without targeted investment, AI may risk widening, rather than narrowing, existing disparities in cardiovascular care across Europe.
• Simplifying regulation. Small companies and start-ups developing AI cardiovascular tools face disproportionate regulatory burdens. The EU is already streamlining conformity assessment and reducing administrative tasks.