AI Algorithm Accurately Detects Heart Murmurs in Dogs, Promising Early Disease Detection

Artificial intelligence might detect heart murmurs in dogs, study finds

Artificial intelligence can accurately detect heart murmurs in dogs, a new study finds. The AI program detects heart murmurs in canines with 90% accuracy, similar to the accuracy of expert cardiologists, researchers report. And in more than half the cases tested, the AI completely agreed with a cardiologist's assessment of the murmur's seriousness. These heart murmurs are a key indicator of heart valve disease, the most common heart condition in adult dogs, researchers said. About 1 in every 30 dogs seen by a vet has a heart murmur, researchers said in background notes. The condition is higher in small breed dogs and older dogs. Early detection is crucial, as timely medication can extend their lives, researchers said. "Heart disease in humans is a huge health issue, but in dogs it's an even bigger problem," said lead investigator Andrew McDonald, a research associate in stethoscope acoustics with the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering. "Most smaller dog breeds will have heart disease when they get older, but obviously dogs can't communicate in the same way that humans can, so it's up to primary care vets to detect heart disease early enough so it can be treated." For the study, researchers started with a database of heart sounds gathered from about 1,000 patients using a digital stethoscope. They developed an AI program to check for heart murmur, then adapted it so it could be used on dogs. "As far as we're aware, there are no existing databases of heart sounds in dogs, which is why we started out with a database of heart sounds in humans," said researcher Anurag Agarwal, a professor of acoustics and biomedical technology at the University of Cambridge. "Mammalian hearts are fairly similar, and when things go wrong, they tend to go wrong in similar ways." The team then tested the AI on nearly 800 dogs undergoing routine heart exams at four vet clinics in the U.K. "Mitral valve disease mainly affects smaller dogs, but to test and improve our algorithm, we wanted to get data from dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages," explained researcher Dr. Jose Novo Matos, a teaching professor of small animal cardiology with Cambridge's Department of Veterinary Medicine. "The more data we have to train it, the more useful our algorithm will be, both for vets and for dog owners." The researchers fine-tuned the AI so it could detect and grade heart murmurs based on digital recordings, differentiating between murmurs caused by mild heart disease and those stemming from advanced disease. The AI agreed with an expert cardiologist's assessment in more than half of the cases tested, researchers report. About 90% of the time, the AI's judgment was within a single grade of the cardiologist's judgment. The new study was published Monday in theJournal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. "The grade of heart murmur is a useful differentiator for determining next steps and treatments, and we've automated that process," McDonald said in a Cambridge news release. "For vets and nurses without as much stethoscope skill, and even those who are incredibly skilled with a stethoscope, we believe this algorithm could be a highly valuable tool." There are drugs available to help dogs with heart valve disease, whereas in humans the only available treatment is surgery, the researchers noted. "Knowing when to medicate is so important, in order to give dogs the best quality of life possible for as long as possible," Agarwal said. "We want to empower vets to help make those decisions." "So many people talk about AI as a threat to jobs, but for me, I see it as a tool that will make me a better cardiologist," Novo Matos said. "We can't perform heart scans on every dog in this country -- we just don't have enough time or specialists to screen every dog with a murmur. "But tools like these could help vets and owners, so we can quickly identify those dogs who are most in need of treatment."

AI algorithm accurately detects heart disease in dogs

Researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm to accurately detect heart murmurs in dogs, one of the main indicators of cardiac disease, which affects a large proportion of some smaller breeds such as King Charles Spaniels. The research team, led by the University of Cambridge, adapted an algorithm originally designed for humans and found it could automatically detect and grade heart murmurs in dogs, based on audio recordings from digital stethoscopes. In tests, the algorithm detected heart murmurs with a sensitivity of 90%, a similar accuracy to expert cardiologists. Heart murmurs are a key indicator of mitral valve disease, the most common heart condition in adult dogs. Roughly one in 30 dogs seen by a veterinarian has a heart murmur, although the prevalence is higher in small breed dogs and older dogs. Since mitral valve disease and other heart conditions are so common in dogs, early detection is crucial as timely medication can extend their lives. The technology developed by the Cambridge team could offer an affordable and effective screening tool for primary care veterinarians, and improve quality of life for dogs. The results are reported in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. "Heart disease in humans is a huge health issue, but in dogs it's an even bigger problem," said first author Dr Andrew McDonald from Cambridge's Department of Engineering. "Most smaller dog breeds will have heart disease when they get older, but obviously dogs can't communicate in the same way that humans can, so it's up to primary care vets to detect heart disease early enough so it can be treated." Professor Anurag Agarwal, who led the research, is a specialist in acoustics and bioengineering. "As far as we're aware, there are no existing databases of heart sounds in dogs, which is why we started out with a database of heart sounds in humans," he said. "Mammalian hearts are fairly similar, and when things go wrong, they tend to go wrong in similar ways." The researchers started with a database of heart sounds from about 1000 human patients and developed a machine learning algorithm to replicate whether a heart murmur had been detected by a cardiologist. They then adapted the algorithm so it could be used with heart sounds from dogs. The researchers gathered data from almost 800 dogs who were undergoing routine heart examination at four veterinary specialist centres in the UK. All dogs received a full physical examination and heart scan (echocardiogram) by a cardiologist to grade any heart murmurs and identify cardiac disease, and heart sounds were recorded using an electronic stethoscope. By an order of magnitude, this is the largest dataset of dog heart sounds ever created. "Mitral valve disease mainly affects smaller dogs, but to test and improve our algorithm, we wanted to get data from dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages," said co-author Professor Jose Novo Matos from Cambridge's Department of Veterinary Medicine, a specialist in small animal cardiology. "The more data we have to train it, the more useful our algorithm will be, both for vets and for dog owners." The researchers fine-tuned the algorithm so it could both detect and grade heart murmurs based on the audio recordings, and differentiate between murmurs associated with mild disease and those reflecting advanced heart disease that required further treatment. "Grading a heart murmur and determining whether the heart disease needs treatment requires a lot of experience, referral to a veterinary cardiologist, and expensive specialised heart scans," said Novo Matos. "We want to empower general practitioners to detect heart disease and assess its severity to help owners make the best decisions for their dogs." Analysis of the algorithm's performance found it agreed with the cardiologist's assessment in over half of cases, and in 90% of cases, it was within a single grade of the cardiologist's assessment. The researchers say this is a promising result, as it is common for there to be significant variability in how different vets grade heart murmurs. "The grade of heart murmur is a useful differentiator for determining next steps and treatments, and we've automated that process," said McDonald. "For vets and nurses without as much stethoscope skill, and even those who are incredibly skilled with a stethoscope, we believe this algorithm could be a highly valuable tool." In humans with valve disease, the only treatment is surgery, but for dogs, effective medication is available. "Knowing when to medicate is so important, in order to give dogs the best quality of life possible for as long as possible," said Agarwal. "We want to empower vets to help make those decisions." "So many people talk about AI as a threat to jobs, but for me, I see it as a tool that will make me a better cardiologist," said Novo Matos. "We can't perform heart scans on every dog in this country -- we just don't have enough time or specialists to screen every dog with a murmur. But tools like these could help vets and owners, so we can quickly identify those dogs who are most in need of treatment." The research was supported in part by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, the Medical Research Council, and Emmanuel College Cambridge.

AI Might Help Pick Up Heart Trouble in Dogs

TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Artificial intelligence can accurately detect heart murmurs in dogs, a new study finds. The AI program detects heart murmurs in canines with 90% accuracy, similar to the accuracy of expert cardiologists, researchers report. And in more than half the cases tested, the AI completely agreed with a cardiologist's assessment of the murmur's seriousness. These heart murmurs are a key indicator of heart valve disease, the most common heart condition in adult dogs, researchers said. About 1 in every 30 dogs seen by a vet has a heart murmur, researchers said in background notes. The condition is higher in small breed dogs and older dogs. Early detection is crucial, as timely medication can extend their lives, researchers said. "Heart disease in humans is a huge health issue, but in dogs it's an even bigger problem," said lead investigator Andrew McDonald, a research associate in stethoscope acoustics with the University of Cambridge Department of Engineering. "Most smaller dog breeds will have heart disease when they get older, but obviously dogs can't communicate in the same way that humans can, so it's up to primary care vets to detect heart disease early enough so it can be treated." For the study, researchers started with a database of heart sounds gathered from about 1,000 patients using a digital stethoscope. They developed an AI program to check for heart murmur, then adapted it so it could be used on dogs. "As far as we're aware, there are no existing databases of heart sounds in dogs, which is why we started out with a database of heart sounds in humans," said researcher Anurag Agarwal, a professor of acoustics and biomedical technology at the University of Cambridge. "Mammalian hearts are fairly similar, and when things go wrong, they tend to go wrong in similar ways." The team then tested the AI on nearly 800 dogs undergoing routine heart exams at four vet clinics in the U.K. "Mitral valve disease mainly affects smaller dogs, but to test and improve our algorithm, we wanted to get data from dogs of all shapes, sizes and ages," explained researcher Dr. Jose Novo Matos, a teaching professor of small animal cardiology with Cambridge's Department of Veterinary Medicine. "The more data we have to train it, the more useful our algorithm will be, both for vets and for dog owners." The researchers fine-tuned the AI so it could detect and grade heart murmurs based on digital recordings, differentiating between murmurs caused by mild heart disease and those stemming from advanced disease. The AI agreed with an expert cardiologist's assessment in more than half of the cases tested, researchers report. About 90% of the time, the AI's judgment was within a single grade of the cardiologist's judgment. The new study was published Oct. 28 in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. "The grade of heart murmur is a useful differentiator for determining next steps and treatments, and we've automated that process," McDonald said in a Cambridge news release. "For vets and nurses without as much stethoscope skill, and even those who are incredibly skilled with a stethoscope, we believe this algorithm could be a highly valuable tool." There are drugs available to help dogs with heart valve disease, whereas in humans the only available treatment is surgery, the researchers noted. "Knowing when to medicate is so important, in order to give dogs the best quality of life possible for as long as possible," Agarwal said. "We want to empower vets to help make those decisions." "So many people talk about AI as a threat to jobs, but for me, I see it as a tool that will make me a better cardiologist," Novo Matos said. "We can't perform heart scans on every dog in this country -- we just don't have enough time or specialists to screen every dog with a murmur. But tools like these could help vets and owners, so we can quickly identify those dogs who are most in need of treatment." SOURCE: University of Cambridge, news release, Oct. 28, 2024

AI can now 'hear' signs of heart disease in dogs - Earth.com

When it comes to our canine companions, their health matters to us just as much as our own. We often wish they could tell us when something is not right. But what if there was a way to listen to what dogs cannot say? Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a machine learning algorithm that can accurately detect heart murmurs - a key indicator of cardiac disease in dogs. A regular feature in small breeds like King Charles Spaniels, cardiac disease is a serious issue that can significantly affect a dog's quality of life. "Heart disease in humans is a huge health issue, but in dogs it's an even bigger problem," said first author Dr. Andrew McDonald from Cambridge's Department of Engineering. "Most smaller dog breeds will have heart disease when they get older, but obviously dogs can't communicate in the same way that humans can, so it's up to primary care vets to detect heart disease early enough so it can be treated." The solution? Technology that can. The team at Cambridge adapted an algorithm initially created for humans to effectively detect and grade heart murmurs in dogs. And the results are astonishing. With a sensitivity accuracy of 90%, the algorithm performs at par with expert cardiologists. So how does this actually work? At the core of this technology is a machine learning algorithm fine-tuned to replicate whether a heart murmur has been detected by a cardiologist. Initially created with a database of heart sounds from about 1,000 human patients, the algorithm was then adapted to be compatible with heart sounds from dogs. The data for this adaptation came from nearly 800 dogs who underwent routine heart examinations at four veterinary specialist centers in the UK. The ultimate goal? To make the innovative algorithm capable of distinguishing between murmurs associated with mild disease and those indicating advanced heart disease that requires further treatment. Professor Anurag Agarwal, who led the research, is a specialist in acoustics and bioengineering. "Knowing when to medicate is so important, in order to give dogs the best quality of life possible for as long as possible," said Professor Agarwal. "We want to empower vets to help make those decisions." And it is not just the vets who will benefit. For dog owners, this technology could hold the key to extending their beloved pet's life with timely diagnosis and treatment. "We can't perform heart scans on every dog in this country - we just don't have enough time or specialists to screen every dog with a murmur," noted study co-author Jose Novo Matos. "But tools like these could help vets and owners, so we can quickly identify those dogs who are most in need of treatment." Artificial intelligence (AI) is proving to be a transformative force in veterinary medicine, offering solutions that were deemed improbable not long ago. By bridging the communication gap between human caregivers and canine patients, AI technologies like the heart murmur algorithm not only enhance diagnostic precision but also expedite the decision-making process in clinical settings. This confluence of advanced technology and veterinary care illustrates the vast potential AI holds in revolutionizing animal healthcare. With further research and development, similar algorithms could emerge, specializing in detecting other common ailments in dogs, promising a new era of comprehensive and personalized vet care. Looking ahead, the journey from academic research to practical applications in veterinary clinics highlights the importance of collaboration across disciplines. The partnership between engineers, veterinary experts, and technology developers underscores a collective commitment to improving animal welfare. Continued collaboration is vital to refine and expand diagnostic tools that leverage machine learning, ensuring veterinarians are well-equipped to face the challenges of modern pet healthcare. As innovations like these continue to evolve, they pave the way for a more integrated approach to managing and enhancing the longevity of dogs beyond heart health, ultimately fostering a deeper human-dog connection. The results not only present a promising future in canine cardiology but also set the stage for how machine learning can benefit healthcare beyond humans. As we continue to explore the possibilities of machine learning, this study reaffirms our belief that technology, when used well, is not a threat but a tool. "So many people talk about AI as a threat to jobs, but for me, I see it as a tool that will make me a better cardiologist," said Novo Matos. The research was supported in part by the Kennel Club Charitable Trust, the Medical Research Council, and Emmanuel College Cambridge. Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles, exclusive content, and the latest updates.

Cambridge researchers use AI to detect heart murmurs in dogs

Researchers have said they are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accurately detect heart murmurs in dogs. A team at the University of Cambridge has developed an algorithm - a set of coded instructions - that was originally designed for humans, but can also detect and grade murmurs in dogs. Heart murmurs are one of the main indicators of heart disease, which can affect a large number of smaller breeds like King Charles Spaniels. Dr Andrew McDonald, the first author of the research, said: "Heart disease in humans is a huge health issue, but in dogs it's an even bigger problem."