Artificial Intelligence-Guided Echocardiography to Improve Heart Disease Care in Rural and Remote Australia A Study to Detect and Manage Heart Failure and Valve Heart Disease Using AI Technology

What this Trial Is About

Heart Failure and valvular heart disease are common and serious problems in rural and remote Australia, partly due to an aging population and higher rates of rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal communities. Access to echocardiography, the best imaging tool for these heart conditions, varies widely because it requires expert operators. This trial aims to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence AI to guide echocardiography for triage and management of patients with known or suspected heart disease in these rural areas. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive AI-guided echocardiography performed by non-experts using a desktop echo machine with AI software, with images uploaded securely to a cloud system for remote analysis. The other group will receive standard echocardiography performed by expert sonographers, often involving delays due to travel or scheduling. This trial will take place in multiple rural and remote sites across Australia, involving around 1200 individuals aged 45 and older at risk for heart failure or valvular heart disease. During the study, participants will undergo imaging and clinical assessments to diagnose cardiac dysfunction or valve disease over a 12-month period. Researchers will measure how well the AI-guided method identifies these conditions early and supports patient management. The trial includes careful monitoring of diagnosis outcomes and aims to reduce hospital admissions while preserving patients functional status and quality of life. The total participation time includes initial screening and follow-up evaluations throughout the year.

Use of Artificial Intelligence-Guided Echocardiography to assIst cardiovascuLar Patient managEment