How can artificial intelligence (AI) contribute to the healthcare industry? This is what a recent study published in The Lancet Digital Health hopes to address as a team of researchers from Japan investigated how AI could be used to analyze radiographs, commonly known as x-rays, for determining if a patient’s lungs are functioning well.
In contrast, x-rays are traditionally used to identify diseases, including lung cancer or tuberculosis. This study holds the potential to help researchers and medical professionals better understand the benefits of using AI to advance the healthcare industry for patients around the world.
For the study, the researchers used their AI model to analyze almost 142,000 chest x-rays from almost 82,000 patients between 2003 and 2021 to ascertain the model’s accuracy compared to breathing test (spirometry) data. In the end, the researchers found their model demonstrated a very high efficiency compared to the spirometry data, indicating that AI could potentially be used someday in identifying pulmonary issues with a patient’s lungs.
Image of the study’s AI model observing x-rays denoting lower values (blue) and higher values (red). (Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University)
“Highly significant is the fact that just by using the static information from chest x-rays, our method suggests the possibility of accurately estimating lung function, which is normally evaluated through tests requiring the patients to exert physical energy,” said Dr. Daiju Ueda, who is a professor at the Osaka Metropolitan University and lead author of the study. “This AI model was built through the cooperation of many people, from physicians, researchers, and technicians to patients at several institutions. If it can help lessen the burden on patients while also reducing medical costs, that would be a wonderful thing.”
This study comes as AI is rapidly becoming integrated into the everyday lives of individuals around the world with questions and discussions pertaining to its proper use continuing at a similar pace.
How will AI be used to improve the healthcare industry in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: The Lancet Digital Health, EurekAlert!
