A group of physicists has introduced an innovative approach to identify congestive heart failure with more accuracy and simplicity than previously believed achievable. This multidisciplinary research combines the expertise of cardiologists and computational physicists and builds on the team’s prior advancements, such as predicting sudden cardiac death risk.
A group of physicists at Tampere University has introduced an innovative approach to identify congestive heart failure with more accuracy and simplicity than previously believed achievable. This multidisciplinary research combines the expertise of cardiologists and computational physicists and builds on the team’s prior advancements, such as predicting sudden cardiac death risk.
Researchers from Tampere University have made significant progress in diagnosing cardiac conditions. Their latest findings reveal that congestive heart failure can be reliably identified by analyzing the intervals between individual heartbeats—known as inter-beat or RR intervals. This measurement can be taken using not only specialized medical equipment but also commonly available devices like smartwatches and heart rate monitors.
The new technique utilizes sophisticated time-series analysis from the Quantum Control and Dynamics research group, led by Professor Esa Räsänen. This analytical method explores the relationships between inter-beat intervals over various time scales, as well as other complex features associated with different heart diseases.
The team examined several international databases containing long-term electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings from both healthy individuals and those with heart ailments. They specifically aimed to differentiate patients with congestive heart failure from both healthy subjects and those with atrial fibrillation. Remarkably, the new method can detect congestive heart failure with an accuracy rate of 90%, showcasing its effectiveness as a diagnostic tool.
More affordable and accessible cardiac monitoring
Traditionally, diagnosing congestive heart failure often involves expensive and labor-intensive imaging techniques, such as echocardiography, commonly referred to as cardiac ultrasound. Previously, detecting congestive heart failure from just inter-beat intervals was extremely challenging, especially in patients with a normal sinus rhythm. In contrast, atrial fibrillation is distinctly easier to spot, allowing for recognition using many off-the-shelf consumer devices.
This new method offers a simpler and more cost-effective way to screen for congestive heart failure using consumer-grade heart rate monitors and smartwatches. This advancement could facilitate earlier detection of heart diseases, enhancing patient care and outcomes.
“This new approach opens doors for digital healthcare and self-monitoring by patients,” states Doctoral Researcher Teemu Pukkila, the study’s lead author.
“Our research sets the stage for the early detection of congestive heart failure using easily accessible tools, avoiding the need for complicated diagnostic methods,” adds Professor of Cardiology Jussi Hernesniemi, a participant in the study and practicing cardiologist at Tays Heart Hospital.
The techniques developed by the Quantum Control and Dynamics group have previously aided in identifying sudden cardiac death and evaluating physiological limits in endurance sports. The researchers plan to confirm these findings with larger datasets and explore how similar techniques might enhance detection accuracy for other heart diseases. These promising outcomes suggest that advanced algorithms may transform the diagnostics and treatment landscape for cardiovascular conditions.
