You can tell a lot about a person’s health by looking at their feet, and it’s this idea that researchers are using for their latest tool to prevent heart attacks.
According to a new study out of the United Kingdom, a “foot recognition” scanning tool could serve to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from heart failure. Best of all, this tool could be used by patients at home, meaning a simple scan of their feet in the morning or at night could catch signs of a potentially catastrophic health issue before it occurs.
Researchers say that the tool is used to detect fluid buildup in the feet and ankles, which is one of the “big three” signs of heart failure (the other two being shortness of breath and fatigue).
“This device detects one of the big three warning signs for people with heart failure before they end up in hospital,” said Dr. Phillip Keeling, senior study author and consultant cardiologist at Torbay an South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. “Only about half of people admitted to hospital with heart failure currently get assigned an early review by a heart failure nurse who can check to see if they are suffering a harmful build-up of fluid because their heart is not working properly. Amid a shortage of heart failure nurses, a device like this can be like a virtual nurse, tracking people’s health.”
AI Scanning Tool
The scanning device can capture 360-degree images and take as many as 1,800 pictures per minute to create a 3D model of of the foot. These images also allow it to assess expected fluid volume within the foot, and if this volume exceeds a certain threshold, an alert is triggered to let the patient know they should seek out medical intervention.
To determine if their AI-powered tool could detect the early warning signs of heart failure, they put it to the test in a study involving 26 patients. Among those who had the scanner in their home for at least two weeks before it triggered an alert, three people were hospitalized with heart failure. The alerts came between eight and 19 days before their hospitalization, with an average prediction time of 13 days before hospitalization. Researchers say 13 days is adequate time to take action to keep someone out of the hospital.
At the end of the study, the foot scanning tool accurately predicted five out of the six hospitalizations. At the conclusion of the six-month study, 82 percent of participants chose to keep the device.
Fluid buildup is certainly something that doctors look for in patients with different stages of heart failure, but it sounds like this simple AI-powered foot scanning tool could help save lives in the near future. Keep an eye on your feet, and if you notice that they are becoming swollen or retaining fluid, it would be wise to seek out medical assistance. Even if it’s not a heart issue, you’ll want to tackle whatever is causing problems in your feet.
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