Sleep diagnostics company VirtuOx reveals “CardioCHECK,” artificial intelligence that screens for potential cardiac arrhythmias in the patient’s home when patients are ordered other medically necessary diagnostic testing.
The VirtuOx CardioCHECK program reviews more than 40,000 new patients each month who are prescribed home-based diagnostic tests like overnight pulse oximetry to diagnose hypoxemia and home sleep tests to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea.
Under the guidance of medical directors, the VirtuOx case management division contacts the prescribing physician when an at-risk patient is identified by CardioCHECK. The physician is informed of the risk factors and potential testing that may be medically necessary such as long-term holter, cardiac event monitoring, and mobile cardiac telemetry
Kyle Miko, founder of VirtuOx, says in a release, “Research has shown arrhythmias are common with patients who have comorbid conditions like sleep apnea and hypoxemia so now offering additional cardiac testing was a natural progression for VirtuOx.”
[RELATED: Sleep Apnea May Increase Atrial Fibrillation Risk]
Board-certified cardiologist and sleep physician Lee A. Surkin, MD, medical director of VirtuOx’s cardiac monitoring division, shared internal data reviewing the first 146 consecutive mobile cardiac telemetry monitor results indicating a 57% abnormal rate that reached the threshold of recommending a cardiology consultation.
Surkin says in a release, “What VirtuOx is doing by extracting heart rate data from pulse oximetry studies and home sleep apnea tests has not been done before in this industry and is creating brand new screening tools to identify otherwise asymptomatic patients at risk for severe cardiac arrhythmias.
“The abnormal rate seen in the first 146 studies interpreted indicates that we are on track to save many patients from significant cardiac morbidity and likely save lives in the process. This is a game-changer in patient care from a cardiac standpoint.”
