Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, with disproportionate impacts on racial and ethnic minorities, low-income populations, and individuals living in underserved areas. Public Health Issues in CVD arise from a complex interplay of factors, including socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, education, environmental conditions, and systemic biases in medical care. These Public Health Issues contribute to higher rates of hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and related complications in vulnerable populations. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers promising solutions to address these inequities by enhancing risk prediction, improving early detection, and supporting personalized treatment strategies. AI can analyze large datasets from electronic health records, imaging, and wearable devices to identify patterns often missed in traditional care models, enabling more proactive and impactful interventions to reduce CVD-related morbidity and mortality.
Description: This comprehensive review explores the current state of AI applications in cardiology, highlighting major breakthroughs in diagnostic imaging, risk prediction, and personalized treatment strategies. It also discusses future directions and the potential of AI to transform cardiovascular care.
Elias, P, Jain, S, Poterucha, T. et al. Artificial Intelligence for Cardiovascular Care—Part 1: Advances: JACC Review Topic of the Week. JACC. 2024 Jun, 83 (24) 2472–2486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2024.03.400
Description: This study evaluates the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to estimate population risks for behavioral, socio-economic, psychological, and biological factors contributing to CVD. It emphasizes how Public Health Issues exacerbate cardiovascular risks and the need for targeted interventions.
Niakouei A, Tehrani M, Fulton L. Health Disparities and Cardiovascular Disease. Healthcare (Basel). 2020 Mar 22;8(1):65. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8010065. PMID: 32235705; PMCID: PMC7151140.
Description: This article analyzes the link between race, racism, and CVD, including major pathways and structural barriers to cardiovascular health. It discusses how AI can be applied to understand and mitigate these Public Health Issues by addressing social determinants of health.
Race, Racism, and Cardiovascular Health: Applying a Social Determinants of Health Framework in Cardiovascular Disease
Zulqarnain Javed, MD, MPH, PhD, Muhammad Haisum Maqsood, MD, Tamer Yahya, MD, Zahir Amin, Isaac Acquah, MD, MPH, Javier Valero-Elizondo, MD, MPH, Julia Andrieni, MD, Prachi Dubey, MD, MPH, Ryane K. Jackson, BA, MLA, Mary A. Daffin, JD, Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, MD, MPH, PhD, Adnan A. Hyder, MD, MPH, PhD, Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, MSc