Ethiopian researchers have developed an artificial intelligence-based system to analyze ultrasound heart images, aiming to detect early signs of rheumatic heart fever, which can lead to heart valve damage, especially in areas suffering from a shortage of specialized medical staff.
The scientific journal "Scientific Reports," affiliated with the "Nature" group, stated in a study published the day before yesterday that a research team from the Ethiopian Institute of Artificial Intelligence, in collaboration with researchers from medical and academic institutions in Ethiopia, developed the system to identify changes that may indicate rheumatic heart fever.
Initial tests, which relied on heart images of patients from regional hospitals in Ethiopia, showed the system's ability to detect some signs associated with heart valve damage, which may help doctors and health sector workers identify cases requiring additional examinations and specialized follow-up.
Researchers clarified that this technology can contribute to facilitating the examination of medical images and accelerating case evaluation, especially in areas lacking sufficient numbers of cardiologists, thereby supporting efforts for early disease detection.
Rheumatic heart fever results from complications that may arise from bacterial throat infections, especially when not treated properly, and can cause heart valve damage and affect its functions over time.
The development of this system comes within the framework of leveraging artificial intelligence technologies to improve medical image analysis and provide diagnostic assistance tools, thereby enhancing access to health services in resource-limited areas.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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