From Trial and Error to Precision: AI’s Answer to Hypertension Treatment

K.C. Sabreena Basheer Last Updated : 07 Jun, 2023
3 min read

Hypertension, a silent killer affecting millions of Americans, could see a major breakthrough in treatment thanks to an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) program. With hypertension being a leading cause of death, stroke, and chronic heart failure, finding the most effective medication for each patient has been challenging. However, a new data-driven machine learning model developed by Boston University scientists and physicians aims to provide real-time treatment recommendations based on patient-specific characteristics. This AI program offers personalized solutions, enhances transparency, and builds trust in AI-generated results. Let’s delve into the details of this remarkable development and its potential impact on hypertension treatment.

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Boston University has developed a machine learning model that suggests personalized treatment for hypertension based on AI-generated results.

A Game-Changing Approach to Hypertension Treatment

Conventional methods of treating hypertension often involve a trial-and-error approach with various medications, each with its own pros and cons. However, the new AI program developed by Boston University offers a revolutionary approach to personalized treatment. By analyzing patient-specific data, including demographics, vital signs, medical history, and clinical test records, the program generates tailored hypertension prescriptions for individual patients.

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Advancing Patient Care with Data-Driven Recommendations

Published in BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, the study describes how the AI program outperforms the current standard of care in reducing systolic blood pressure. Leveraging machine learning algorithms, the program provides physicians with a list of suggested medications & the probability of success for each. The goal is to maximize the effectiveness of hypertensive medications at the individual level, enabling a personalized approach to treatment.

ML & AI can now suggest personalized treatment for hypertension.

Building Trust in AI-Generated Results

One of the critical aspects of this AI program is its emphasis on transparency. The research team aimed to ensure clinicians, including those without technical expertise, could understand and trust the algorithm’s recommendations. The program clearly explains how the model works and why specific therapeutic recommendations are proposed. By doing so, it aims to overcome the low levels of trust typically associated with AI in healthcare.

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Data-Driven Validation and Impressive Results

To develop the model, the researchers utilized deidentified data from over 42,000 hypertensive patients at Boston Medical Center. The model sorted patients into affinity groups based on similar characteristics and compared its effectiveness to the current standard of care and other predictive algorithms. The results showed the AI program achieved a 70.3% larger reduction in systolic blood pressure than the standard of care. This means that it outperformed alternative models by 7.08%.

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Boston University has developed a data-driven machine learning model to treat hypertension.

Unveiling New Insights and Deprescribing Opportunities

Beyond its success in personalized treatment recommendations, the AI program also demonstrated the benefits of deprescribing—reducing or stopping prescriptions for certain patients taking multiple medications. The program’s ability to suggest optimal therapies offers valuable insights in situations where the medical community debates the effectiveness of different drugs, known as clinical equipoise.

Embracing AI’s Potential in Healthcare

While the adoption of machine learning in healthcare has been limited, the potential impact is widely recognized. The transparency and accuracy of this AI program address key concerns, such as interpreting results and trust in artificial intelligence. By effectively handling large amounts of patient data, uncovering patterns, and providing personalized recommendations, this AI program has the potential to revolutionize hypertension treatment and improve patient outcomes.

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Our Say

Boston University’s new AI program for hypertension treatment represents a significant breakthrough in healthcare. Physicians can receive real-time personalized hypertension prescription recommendations by leveraging patient-specific data and advanced machine learning algorithms. This innovative approach outperforms the current standard of care and also builds trust in AI-generated results by ensuring transparency & understanding. As this AI program continues to evolve, it holds the promise of transforming treatment strategies for hypertension and improving the lives of millions of patients worldwide.

Sabreena Basheer is an architect-turned-writer who's passionate about documenting anything that interests her. She's currently exploring the world of AI and Data Science as a Content Manager at Analytics Vidhya.

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