Archives for June 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiovascular Imaging Research Highlighted at ASE 2023

(DURHAM, NC, June 23, 2023)—Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the field of cardiovascular ultrasound imaging, and research studies are examining the ways that AI can most benefit patients and medical practitioners.

AI-related research is a prominent topic at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 23-26, 2023, in National Harbor, Md. This year’s meeting is appropriately named Foundations and the Future of Cardiovascular Ultrasound and will focus on education, science and innovation.

Three AI research studies that will be presented during the meeting highlight different AI tools including AI-powered chat interactions, identifying patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and identifying life-threating valve disease. The findings from each of these studies will be presented Sunday, June 25, 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. Learn more about ASE 2023 and download the conference’s final event program at ASEScientificSessions.org.

Using AI-Powered Chat Interactions with Patients

The rise of online chat-based AI models has opened up new possibilities in the field of medicine. A new research study titled Enhancing Patient Comprehension of Echocardiography Reports through Artificial Intelligence-Powered Chat Interactions examines how chat-based AI technology could potentially improve the healthcare experience for cardiovascular ultrasound patients.

Echocardiography reports are crucial for diagnosing and monitoring heart conditions, but they are oftentimes filled with complex medical terminology and numerous abbreviations that can be difficult for patients to understand. Providers use these reports to explain medical findings to patients, and patients can use the reports to actively engage in their healthcare, participate in insightful discussions with their doctors and obtain a better comprehension of treatment strategies.

“Our research is fundamentally about patient education and bridging the gap between medical complexity and patient understanding,” says lead author Dr. Joseph Kassab, a cardiovascular imaging research fellow at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “By leveraging AI-powered chat interactions, it is our hope that in the future, we might be able to provide patients with a medically validated tool to explore and better understand their echocardiography reports on their own time. Doctors continue to provide their irreplaceable expertise, while the AI models serve as a supportive educational tool, making information more accessible to patients.”

AI Can Detect HFpEF with Greater Ease and Precision

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a major cause of disease and death worldwide, and diagnosis can be challenging. Various algorithms that include clinical risk factors and echocardiography measurements have been developed for diagnosis but are indeterminate in many patients. A research study titled Automated Echocardiographic Detection of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction using Artificial Intelligence applies AI to analyze a single, routinely acquired echocardiographic video clip in an effort to identify patients with HFpEF, a group with increased morbidity and mortality.

“Our novel AI model demonstrated excellent discrimination of patients with HFpEF versus without, more often than with clinical scores, and it was able to stratify patients according to mortality risk,” said the study’s senior author Dr. Patricia A. Pellikka, chair, Division of Cardiovascular Ultrasound at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. “Further testing in varied populations and in different echocardiography labs is needed to refine the model, but it could potentially be used for screening and importantly, expedite diagnosis and treatment for a large group of patients.”

The deep learning-based AI algorithm was developed as a result of institution and industry collaboration. Mayo Clinic and Ultromics, an AI echocardiography company spun out of the University of Oxford, joined forces to develop the algorithm, which was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 after being awarded breakthrough device status. The research was supported by a grant from the ASE Foundation.

AI Technology Supports Echocardiography in Determining Aortic Stenosis Severity

Aortic Stenosis (AS) is a common form of valvular heart disease, and it is estimated to be present in over 12% of the population aged 75 years and above. Transthoracic echocardiography is the first line of cardiovascular imaging in determining the severity of AS and requires expert sonographic and interpretation capabilities to yield accurate results. AI technology has emerged as a useful tool to address these limitations but has not yet been applied in a fully hands off manner to evaluate AS.

A new research study titled Fully Automated Artificial Intelligence Assessment of Aortic Stenosis by Echocardiography tested an AI tool to measure echocardiographic markers of AS severity without human input. The AI-derived measurements were highly accurate when compared against expert cardiologist assessment.

“AI technology can allow for near instantaneous and hands-free identification of a life-threatening valvular heart condition by providers trained only in basic ultrasound,” said lead author Dr. Hema Krishna, a cardiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “This machine learning platform can potentially extend diagnostic capability to patients in rural, community, or emergency room settings without immediate access to cardiologists.”

Dr. Krishna explained that rapid identification of hemodynamically significant AS can reduce the time to receive life-saving valve replacement therapy and also prevent unnecessary morbidity and mortality.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Porter
919-297-7152
APorter@ASEcho.org

New Research Study Uses Echocardiography to Compare Global Longitudinal Strain Values Among College Athletes Diagnosed with a COVID-19 Infection

(DURHAM, NC, June 23, 2023)—COVID-19 may no longer be a global health emergency, but the effects of the disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are still being felt and studied. Research that will be presented at the American Society of Echocardiography’s (ASE) 34th Annual Scientific Sessions, June 23-26, 2023, in National Harbor, Md., will share how echocardiography was used to analyze left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS) in college athletes who experienced mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In the study, nearly 200 student athletes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who tested positive for COVID-19 from September-March 2020, underwent a comprehensive echocardiogram to collect various data, including GLS values. GLS values can vary with age and sex, but they can be used to help predict future cardiovascular events and detect structural heart diseases.

The study found that GLS was normal in most college athletes when compared to reported normal values. However, GLS values in male football players were lower than previously reported normal values. These echocardiographic findings were supported by cardiac MRIs.

“Collecting and comparing GLS enables medical professionals to better monitor athletes for heart abnormalities associated with viral illnesses, such as COVID-19,” says the study’s lead author Dr. Parag A. Tipnis, an associate clinical professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Echocardiography remains a powerful tool in the diagnosis of cardiac disease and can be complementary to other modalities, such as cardiac MRIs, to help determine when athletes or patients can return to normal activities after an illness.”

Dr. Tipnis described the research findings as hypothesis generating, and stressed the importance of further analyzing GLS values in larger patient populations.

“My research team and I believe that future studies of GLS patterns in college athletes will be important in helping detect heart issues and minimizing the risk of sudden cardiac death,” he continued.

Highlighting continuing innovations in the cardiovascular ultrasound field, nearly 400 abstract poster presentations will be featured during ASE 2023. This study, titled Comparison of Global Longitudinal Strain Among College Athletes Diagnosed with Mild to Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infection, will be presented Saturday, June 24, 7 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. ET at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort and Convention Center. Learn more about ASE 2023 and download the conference’s final event program at ASEScientificSessions.org.

About American Society of Echocardiography
The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) is the Society for Cardiovascular Ultrasound Professionals™. ASE is the largest global organization for cardiovascular ultrasound imaging serving physicians, sonographers, nurses, veterinarians, and scientists and as such is the leader and advocate, setting practice standards and guidelines for the field. The Society is committed to advancing cardiovascular ultrasound to improve lives. For more information, visit ASE’s website ASEcho.org or social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

###

This month, ASE welcomed 15 distinguished Fellows of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE) recipients! These members exemplify excellence in the field of cardiovascular ultrasound through education, research, leadership, and volunteerism. They are ambassadors for ASE and recognized experts in their field. Join us in congratulating the newest FASE recipients:

• Cecilia A. Albaro, MD, FASE
• Mounir F. Banoub, MD, FASE
• Sridhar Banrur, MD, FACC, FASE
• Aditya Bhat, MBBS, BMedSc, MPH, DDU, FRACP, FASE
• Mahesh Chandrasekhar, MD, FASE
• Victoria Jones, RDCS, FASE
• Ilya Karagodin, MD, FASE
• Preetham Kumar, MD, FASE
• Van Lam, RDCS, FASE
• Neha Mantri, MD, FASE
• Karen Rumery, RDCS, RVT, FASE
• Nandita Scott, MD, FASE
• Matthew Suffoletto, MD, FASE
• Emily Maria Tanel, FASE
• Tom Kai Ming Wang, MD, FASE

A complete list of FASE members can be found at SeeMyHeart.org. If you are interested in applying for FASE, or would like more information, visit ASEcho.org/FASE. The next deadline to apply is August 1, 2023.

Join CASE Editor-in-Chief, Vincent L. Sorrell, MD, FASE, as he interviews Rebecca L. Stepien, DVM, MS, DACVIM, for the CASE Spotlight Series. Dr. Stepien shares her insights on how the world of veterinary cardiovascular imaging intersects with and complements that of human cardiovascular imaging, and how CASE helps all practitioners learn from each other. The Spotlight includes some fascinating conversations about the hearts of sled dogs, whippets, and more! 

The ASE Foundation is delighted to announce a brand new award, the Michael H. Picard Research Award. This award has been established to honor Dr. Picard’s five years of stellar service as Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography (JASE) and is supported by a grant to the ASE Foundation by Elsevier. The annual award of $1,000 will be given to the overall highest scoring abstract submitted to the annual ASE Scientific Sessions by a trainee. Thank you, Dr. Picard, for your years of service to JASE and ASE.

Please join us in congratulating the inaugural Michael H. Picard Research Award recipient, Alex D’Amico, MD, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Cardiology in Birmingham, AL. This award, along with many other ASE Foundation supported research awards, travel grant, and scholarships, will be recognized during the 2023 Awards Presentation on Saturday, June 24, from 8:00 – 10:00 AM ET at the ASE Scientific Sessions.

Can’t Make it In-Person to National Harbor? Join Us Virtually!

It’s almost here! The countdown to the start of the ASE 2023 Scientific Sessions in National Harbor, Maryland, has officially made it to single digits. ASE 2023 is just 9 days away, but there is still time to register and attend.

• ASE 2023 In-Person: Join all the interactive education, networking, and career enhancement opportunities onsite! We have a large number of attendees coming from all over the world. Don’t miss your chance to shake hands, talk to experts, and participate in scanning exercises. Registration includes a maximum of 29.75 CME/MOC points, Welcome and President’s Receptions, breakfast, and coffee breaks. In-person registrants receive unlimited access to recordings (audio and PowerPoint only) from six main track rooms for 90 days from Tuesday, July 11, 2023, to Monday, October 9, 2023. Attendees may claim CME credits for attending sessions in-person. Don’t wait! Prices increase by $125 for on-site registration!
• ASE 2023 Virtual: Can’t make the meeting in-person? Register as a virtual attendee! Registration includes access to three different live stream channels, a maximum of 24.25 CME/MOC points, and unlimited access to recordings (audio and PowerPoint only) from the live-streamed sessions for 90 days from Tuesday, July 11, 2023, to Monday, October 9, 2023. Virtual attendees may claim CME credits for watching either the live-streamed or recorded sessions. Don’t delay!

ASE and the ASE Foundation are offering three grants worth up to $25,000 USD to early career scientists in cardiovascular imaging. The Early-Career Development Grant for Echo Scientists (EDGES) provides support and professional development opportunities for early career members in the Society and creates an avenue for the continued evolution of echocardiography through technical advancement and new applications.

The grants will fund projects that address a clinical gap in cardiovascular ultrasound imaging through research led by an early career scientist. Physicians, PhDs, veterinarians, sonographers, and other healthcare professionals who are within seven years from having completed training are eligible to apply now through July 1, 2023, 5:00 PM ET. The principal investigator must be an active ASE member.

If you’re headed to the 34^th Annual ASE Scientific Sessions in National Harbor, Maryland, this June, make sure you stop by the ASE Foundation Booth! We will be located in the Maryland Ballroom Lobby. We have quite a few things planned and cannot wait to see you in person! Come say hi, donate (of course!), and:

• Join the Cardiovascular Challenge, sponsored by AGFA HealthCare, Bracco Diagnostics, Bristol Myers Squibb, Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), Mayo Clinic, Siemens Healthineers and UltraSight.
• Check out photos from prior years’ Images from the Heart exhibits. Photos are available to take home with a $100 donation in the photographer’s name.
• Pick up your Research Awards Gala seat card.

We look forward to seeing you in National Harbor in a few weeks! 

The June issue of JASE includes “Preservation of Right Ventricular Function in Middle-Aged Recreational Endurance Athletes.” Lead author Mina Girgis, MD remarks, “Our study demonstrates that right ventricular (RV) systolic function, based on RV free-wall strain, is preserved in middle-aged endurance athletes. This finding alleviates concerns raised in previous studies and suggests the safety of continued exercise in this age group.” Notably, this issue also features research findings supported in part by the ASE Foundation in accordance with the World Alliance Societies of Echocardiography (WASE), entitled, “Age-, Sex-, and Race-Based Normal Values for Left Ventricular Circumferential Strain from the World Alliance Societies of Echocardiography Study.”



Additionally, a second clinical investigation assesses gender and racial differences in the context of indexing LV end-diastolic volume to normal echocardiography data. Editorial comments accompany two articles including one on new normative values for circumferential strain and another on price transparency and cardiovascular spending. This issue features a focus topic of the right heart, supplying several clinical investigations such as identification of a pulmonary hypertension phenotype in heart failure, prognostic impact of RV strain in isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation, RV electromechanical dyssynchrony’s relation to Ebstein anomaly, and analysis of RV intracardiac flow in pediatric patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. Various brief research communications enhance this array of topics including a decade-long study on the changes in myocardial tissue velocities presented by the Copenhagen City Heart Study. A letter to the editor will engage readers regarding the importance of accurate echocardiographic assessment for improved cardiovascular outcomes in women.

To better understand what captures the interest of JASE’s readership, Patricia A. Pellikka, MD, FASE, utilizes her editorial to examine elements of some recent articles with the greatest number of downloads. From educational ASE guidelines to insightful studies in the Brief Communications section, JASE strives to continue providing valuable offerings to its readers.

In his final President’s Message, Stephen H. Little, MD, FASE, reflects on the progress of initiatives begun in his tenure as president and points to the groundwork laid for future focus areas of the Society. Please see the June ASE Education Calendar for a listing of educational opportunities far and wide.