One scan could now check both breast and heart health
Australian researchers have created an algorithm that detects heart disease risk from routine mammograms, combining two vital health checks into one.
Researchers at George Institute for Global Health are developing a test to screen for heart disease during routine breast mammograms. Professor Clare Arnott used artificial intelligence trained on around 50,000 scans to create an algorithm.
The algorithm flags heart disease risk as high, medium or low. No extra blood test or clinical information is needed beyond age and the routine mammogram.
Women showing higher risk would be referred to a GP. Heart disease kills about one Australian woman every hour.
This breakthrough could catch heart problems earlier, when treatment is more likely to work. Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White says the government will consider next steps.
- The George Institute for Global Health
- Institution
- Professor Clare Arnott
- Researcher
- 50,000
- Scans analysed
- 1 Australian woman
- Deaths per hour
Why it mattersCombining screenings means women get vital heart health checks alongside breast cancer screening, with no extra appointments or tests.
AustraliaAustralian women could catch heart disease earlier without additional screening steps, saving time and lives.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
