Machine Learning in Cardiology: A Potential Real-World Solution in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Mohamad S Alabdaljabar,1,2 Babar Hasan,3 Peter A Noseworthy,4 Joseph F Maalouf,4,5 Naser M Ammash,4,5 Shahrukh K Hashmi5,6 1Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; 2College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi, Pakistan; 4Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; 5Department of Medicine, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; 6Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USACorrespondence: Shahrukh K Hashmi, Department of Medicine, SSMC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Email shhashmi@ssmc.aeAbstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is a promising field of cardiovascular medicine. Many AI tools have been shown to be efficacious with a high level of accuracy. Yet, their use in real life is not well established. In the era of health technology and data science, it is crucial to consider how these tools could improve healthcare delivery. This is particularly important in countries with limited resources, such as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). LMICs have many barriers in the care continuum of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and big portion of these barriers come from scarcity of resources, mainly financial and human power constraints. AI/ML could potentially improve healthcare delivery if appropriately applied in these countries. Expectedly, the current literature lacks original articles about AI/ML originating from these countries. It is important to start early with a stepwise approach to understand the obstacles these countries face in order to develop AI/ML-based solutions. This could be detrimental to many patients’ lives, in addition to other expected advantages in other sectors, including the economy sector. In this report, we aim to review what is known about AI/ML in cardiovascular medicine, and to discuss how it could benefit LMICs.Keywords: artificial intelligence, machine learning, cardiology, low, middle, income, countries