Artificial intelligence in assessing cardiovascular diseases and risk factors via retinal fundus images: A review of the last decade

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) methods—in particular, deep learning (DL)—has been on the rise lately for the analysis of different CVD‐related topics. The use of fundus images and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the diagnosis of retinal diseases has also been extensively studied. To better understand heart function and anticipate changes based on microvascular characteristics and function, researchers are currently exploring the integration of AI with noninvasive retinal scanning. There is great potential to reduce the number of cardiovascular events and the financial strain on healthcare systems by utilizing AI‐assisted early detection and prediction of cardiovascular diseases on a large scale. A comprehensive search was conducted across various databases, including PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Sciences, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library, using specific keywords related to cardiovascular diseases and AI. The study included 87 English‐language publications selected for relevance, and additional references were considered. This article provides an overview of the recent developments and difficulties in using AI and retinal imaging to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. It provides insights for further exploration in this field. Researchers are trying to develop precise disease prognosis patterns in response to the aging population and the growing global burden of CVD. AI and DL are revolutionizing healthcare by potentially diagnosing multiple CVDs from a single retinal image. However, swifter adoption of these technologies in healthcare systems is required.This article is categorized under: Application Areas > Health Care Technologies > Artificial Intelligence