Using AI and a blood test to screen pacemaker patients for heart failure
Tests AI-assisted hand-held heart scans and a finger-prick blood test for heart failure.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: OPTimising a Screening Program to Detect Pacemaker-associated Heart Failure Using Artificial Intelligence
Key facts
- Where
- Leeds, United KingdomSee the site
Where in United Kingdom
- Cardiovascular Research Facility, Leeds General InfirmaryLeeds, United KingdomNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Leeds
- Trial code
- NCT07372651
- Record updated
- 28 January 2026
- Original description
Pacemakers are an effective treatment for slow heart rates which improve symptoms and save lives. However, for some people pacemakers can cause heart failure (HF) because of the unnatural way in which they stimulate heart beats. In several studies conducted in West Yorkshire we showed that ~1/3 of patients with pacemakers have undiagnosed HF. We also showed that where HF is discovered, treating it with safe and inexpensive medications reduces the chances of being admitted to hospital or dying. However, detecting HF requires an echocardiogram (a heart ultrasound scan) which takes ~45 minutes, requires a skilled technician, and costs £120; or, to put it another way ~£540,000 to assess the ~4,500 patients cared for at our hospital. A new approach is needed. We think that using new technologies can improve our ability to screen for HF in people with pacemakers. We will test two approaches. First, we will assess whether a hand-held echocardiogram can measure heart function using artificial intelligence (AI) as accurately as a standard echocardiogram done by a skilled technician. Second, we will assess whether a finger-prick blood test can detect the presence of abnormal function as accurately as a standard echocardiogram.Read full original descriptionShow less
OPTimising a Screening Program to Detect Pacemaker-associated Heart Failure Using Artificial Intelligence
Pacemakers are an effective treatment for slow heart rates which improve symptoms and save lives. However, for some people pacemakers can cause heart failure (HF) because of the unnatural way in which they stimulate heart beats. In several studies conducted in West Yorkshire we showed that ~1/3 of patients with pacemakers have undiagnosed HF. We also showed that where HF is discovered, treating it with safe and inexpensive medications reduces the chances of being admitted to hospital or dying. However, detecting HF requires an echocardiogram (a heart ultrasound scan) which takes ~45 minutes, requires a skilled technician, and costs £120; or, to put it another way ~£540,000 to assess the ~4,500 patients cared for at our hospital. A new approach is needed. We think that using new technologies can improve our ability to screen for HF in people with pacemakers. We will test two approaches. First, we will assess whether a hand-held echocardiogram can measure heart function using artificial intelligence (AI) as accurately as a standard echocardiogram done by a skilled technician. Second, we will assess whether a finger-prick blood test can detect the presence of abnormal function as accurately as a standard echocardiogram.
Inclusion: Adult patients aged ≥18 years; Patients with existing pacemakers who have a right ventricular pacing burden ≥20%; Ability to provide informed consent.
Exclusion: Patients known to have heart failure; Patients with cardiac resynchronisation therapy pacemakers/defibrillators; Patients with any previous measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction <50%; Patients who are unwilling or unable to provide informed consent; Patients with conduction system pacemakers; Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators; Patients with leadless pacemakers.