NAIROBI, Kenya – Global biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is breaking new ground in heart failure (HF) screening by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the diagnostic process.
The company, in collaboration with AI healthcare innovator Tricog Health and the Kenya Cardiac Society (KCS), is conducting a pivotal study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of an AI-driven Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) model for early detection of HF.
The study, launched in May 2024, spans across seven centers in Kenya, chosen to represent diverse patient demographics and streamline echocardiogram validation.
By leveraging Tricog’s AI-based ECG algorithms, AstraZeneca seeks to transform a low-cost, widely available tool—the electrocardiogram (ECG)—into a powerful means of identifying individuals at risk for heart failure.
With heart failure affecting over 64.3 million people globally, the stakes are high.
The International Congestive Heart Failure Study (INTER-CHF) has already underscored the severity of the issue, revealing that Africa has the highest HF mortality rate at 34%.
In Kenya, the situation is particularly dire, as many cases go undetected due to the inaccessibility and prohibitive costs of conventional screening tools like echocardiograms.
“Africa’s healthcare challenges are vast, but AI presents an opportunity to reshape patient outcomes through scalable, cost-effective solutions,” said Carlo Budree, Director of Commercial IT, Digital and Innovation at AstraZeneca.
The company is aiming to address these challenges through the A.Catalyst Network (A.CN) Africa Hub, a health innovation platform designed to enhance patient care across the continent.
AstraZeneca’s collaboration with Tricog Health and KCS is already yielding promising results. Early data from five sites reveals a 15.5% prevalence of heart failure—far higher than anticipated—highlighting the hidden burden of the disease.
Alarmingly, 70% of the patients screened showed signs of underlying cardiovascular disorders, with 10% in critical need of immediate medical attention.
“These findings underscore the potential of AI to identify asymptomatic patients who would otherwise remain undiagnosed until their condition becomes critical,” said Bernard Samia, President of KCS and Principal Investigator of the study. “By harnessing AI technology, we can reduce the time to diagnosis and offer a scalable solution that works even in resource-limited settings.”
Tricog’s InstaECG AI tools, which provide a cardiac diagnosis in just three minutes, are pivotal to the project’s success.
The technology has the potential to revolutionize heart failure screening, particularly in regions where echocardiography remains out of reach.
Prateek Golecha, Vice President of Digital at Tricog, emphasized the transformative nature of this technology.
“AI can rapidly and accurately analyze ECG data to detect individuals at risk for heart failure, even in the absence of overt symptoms. This innovation could fundamentally change how we approach HF diagnosis, especially in countries like Kenya where access to healthcare resources is limited,” he said.
Looking ahead, AstraZeneca is committed to bridging the healthcare gap across Africa.
“This study is just the beginning,” said Deepak Arora, AstraZeneca’s Country President for the African Cluster. “We’re determined to close the gaps in patient care—from awareness to diagnosis and long-term management—and ensure that millions of people across Africa receive the timely and effective care they need.”
The company, in collaboration with AI healthcare innovator Tricog Health and the Kenya Cardiac Society (KCS), is conducting a pivotal study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of an AI-driven Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) model for early detection of HF.
The study, launched in May 2024, spans across seven centers in Kenya, chosen to represent diverse patient demographics and streamline echocardiogram validation.
By leveraging Tricog’s AI-based ECG algorithms, AstraZeneca seeks to transform a low-cost, widely available tool—the electrocardiogram (ECG)—into a powerful means of identifying individuals at risk for heart failure.
With heart failure affecting over 64.3 million people globally, the stakes are high.
The International Congestive Heart Failure Study (INTER-CHF) has already underscored the severity of the issue, revealing that Africa has the highest HF mortality rate at 34%.
In Kenya, the situation is particularly dire, as many cases go undetected due to the inaccessibility and prohibitive costs of conventional screening tools like echocardiograms.
“Africa’s healthcare challenges are vast, but AI presents an opportunity to reshape patient outcomes through scalable, cost-effective solutions,” said Carlo Budree, Director of Commercial IT, Digital and Innovation at AstraZeneca.
The company is aiming to address these challenges through the A.Catalyst Network (A.CN) Africa Hub, a health innovation platform designed to enhance patient care across the continent.
AstraZeneca’s collaboration with Tricog Health and KCS is already yielding promising results. Early data from five sites reveals a 15.5% prevalence of heart failure—far higher than anticipated—highlighting the hidden burden of the disease.
Alarmingly, 70% of the patients screened showed signs of underlying cardiovascular disorders, with 10% in critical need of immediate medical attention.
“These findings underscore the potential of AI to identify asymptomatic patients who would otherwise remain undiagnosed until their condition becomes critical,” said Bernard Samia, President of KCS and Principal Investigator of the study. “By harnessing AI technology, we can reduce the time to diagnosis and offer a scalable solution that works even in resource-limited settings.”
Tricog’s InstaECG AI tools, which provide a cardiac diagnosis in just three minutes, are pivotal to the project’s success.
The technology has the potential to revolutionize heart failure screening, particularly in regions where echocardiography remains out of reach.
Prateek Golecha, Vice President of Digital at Tricog, emphasized the transformative nature of this technology.
“AI can rapidly and accurately analyze ECG data to detect individuals at risk for heart failure, even in the absence of overt symptoms. This innovation could fundamentally change how we approach HF diagnosis, especially in countries like Kenya where access to healthcare resources is limited,” he said.
Looking ahead, AstraZeneca is committed to bridging the healthcare gap across Africa.
“This study is just the beginning,” said Deepak Arora, AstraZeneca’s Country President for the African Cluster. “We’re determined to close the gaps in patient care—from awareness to diagnosis and long-term management—and ensure that millions of people across Africa receive the timely and effective care they need.”
