A new technology, developed by CardioSignal in collaboration with the University of Turku, employs a smartphone to analyze heart movement and identify heart failure. This breakthrough involves a study conducted by five organizations spanning Finland and the United States.
Heart failure, a widespread condition globally, occurs when the heart fails to pump blood effectively. Its diagnosis is challenging due to symptoms overlapping with other conditions, such as shortness of breath and fatigue. The lack of a simple diagnostic test necessitates complex examinations like doctor consultations and imaging scans.
Gyrocardiography, a non-invasive method, measures chest vibrations indicating cardiac activity. Utilizing the smartphone’s motion sensors, this technique records vibrations, even those inaudible through a stethoscope. Over the past decade, researchers at the University of Turku and CardioSignal have refined this approach.
In their recent study, conducted at Turku and Helsinki University Hospitals in Finland and Stanford University Hospital in the US, approximately 1,000 participants were involved, including 200 heart failure patients. Promising results indicate distinct patterns in smartphone sensor data associated with heart failure, potentially enabling efficient diagnosis.
According to Cardiologist Antti Saraste, the findings offer hope for easier heart failure detection. The accurate analysis of smartphone-detected movements could revolutionize primary healthcare by providing a quick and accessible diagnostic tool.
Heart failure, affecting around 1-2% of Finland’s population and more prevalent in older adults, underscores the importance of timely detection for symptom management and cost reduction. Collaborative efforts between CardioSignal and the University of Turku aim to enhance diagnostics, prevent complications, and improve overall health outcomes.
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