Overview

• Across 96 GP surgeries using the tool, diagnoses over 12 months were 2.33 times higher for heart failure, 3.45 times higher for atrial fibrillation and 1.92 times higher for valve disease compared with 109 control practices.
• The palm-sized device records heart sounds and a rapid ECG in about 15 seconds, uploads data to the cloud for AI analysis and returns results to a smartphone.
• Two-thirds of patients flagged as suspected heart failure were not confirmed on BNP testing or imaging, underscoring the need for clear confirmatory pathways.
• About 70% of participating practices reduced or stopped use within a year, pointing to integration, training and workflow barriers to sustained adoption.
• Researchers presented the results at the ESC congress in Madrid and published them in BMJ Open, with targeted rollouts planned for GP practices in Wales, south London and Sussex.