The Harley Street Clinic, part of HCA Healthcare UK, has announced that it is first hospital in the UK to offer a revolutionary new prediction technology, called CaRi-Heart, to patients who are high risk of a fatal heart condition later in life. The pioneering AI technology can help to identify patients who are at risk of heart attack, years before it strikes.

CaRi-Heart is a brand new, first-of-its-kind technology which has the power to detect ‘invisible’ risks in people with possible heart disease, by performing a deeper dive into routine CT angiogram (CCTA) scans to reveal any ‘red flags’ that are hiding beneath their surface.

It works by using AI and deep-learning technology to produce a biomarker, the Fat Attenuation Index (FAI), which accurately measures inflammation of blood vessels in and around the heart; helping to identify any ‘ticking-time-bomb’ arteries that could potentially lead to a heart attack in future.

Following a referral from a GP or cardiologist, patients can undergo this non-invasive scan at The Harley Street Clinic and receive their results within a matter of days. Those who receive a troubling FAI-Score will then be recommended to see to one of the hospital’s expert cardiologists, to receive a personalised prevention and management plan.

Professor Ronak Rajani, Consultant Cardiologist at The Harley Street Clinic, told a recent interview; 'The introduction of CaRi-Heart exclusively at The Harley Street Clinic is a significant moment for the hospital, and indeed for cardiac disease prevention in the UK. The technology offers hope and reassurance to the large number of patients we see who have heart problems or a family history with heart disease, by allowing them to put preventative measures in place if they are deemed high risk of a heart attack in future.’

Approximately 450 people die every day in the UK due to a heart attack or cardiovascular disease, which occur when the heart’s coronary arteries become narrowed or blocked. Up until now, there has been no way for medical professionals to detect the underlying problems that could lead to a heart attack in the future.

CaRi-Heart, which was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and developed by spinout company Caristo Diagnostics, has recently received a CE Mark for usage in the UK. The Harley Street Clinic will be the first private hospital in the UK to treat patients using the new testing technology.

The Harley Street Clinic has a specialist cardiac centre, which offers a vast range of prevention, management, and treatment options, as well as access to a team of world-leading cardiologists, clinical nurse specialists and cardiothoracic surgeons.

Will Pressley, Chief Executive Officer at The Harley Street Clinic, told a recent interview; ‘The Harley Street Clinic is committed to investing in the best technology for our patients, and the arrival of CaRi-Heartis a great example of this. This new technology, combined with the expertise of our world-leading cardiac consultants, could help to change the lives of hundreds of patients who are at risk of heart disease.’

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Carrie Plummer - Editor & Content Manager