AI applications in ischemic stroke risk assessment

Developments in artificial intelligence are being applied to improve the assessment and identification of ischemic stroke risks.

In Bulgaria, a medical team introduced iStroke-BG, an AI-driven online calculator designed to evaluate the five-year risk of ischemic stroke within the Bulgarian population. The tool utilizes 12 indicators, such as blood pressure, diabetes, and BMI, to support early identification and preventative measures. Medical experts noted that while the technology supports clinical decisions, it is intended to assist rather than replace physician expertise.

Concurrently, researchers have utilized transformer technology to develop an AI model capable of identifying complex genetic patterns linked to stroke. By analyzing data from the UK Biobank and the US All of Us research program, the model identified 18 genetic variants, noting that individuals in the highest genetic risk group were approximately 22% more likely to experience an ischemic stroke. Efforts are underway to expand this into a multimodal tool that integrates genetic data with lifestyle surveys and medical imaging for more personalized assessments.