AI T-Shirt for Heart Condition Detection

Early detection of heart issues might be as simple as a T-shirt tucked away in your dresser. Researchers in the UK are developing an AI-driven T-shirt that aims to enhance the identification of heart conditions more effectively than standard electrocardiograms (EKGs).

This innovative wearable technology is primarily focused on recognizing inherited heart conditions that frequently go unnoticed due to their lack of obvious symptoms. According to the lead researchers, these conditions can pose serious health risks.

Currently, standard at-home ECGs are the go-to technology for spotting heart irregularities. However, they can be quite cumbersome for patients—think of the hassle of attaching electrodes to your chest and the routine of having to remove and reapply them, especially when bathing.

In contrast, T-shirts are significantly easier to wear. They are designed to be used for up to a week, whereas EKGs typically monitor heart rhythms for just 48 hours. This extended wear could provide a more accurate picture of heart health.

Millions of people in the U.S. have congenital heart defects, making them susceptible to life-threatening arrhythmias. Symptoms of these heart issues can include shortness of breath during low-intensity activities, fainting spells, and, in severe cases, sudden cardiac death (SCD). Alarmingly, the rate of SCD among adults aged 25 to 44 has increased since 1999.

Diagnosing these problems in a clinical setting can be tricky. A brief snapshot of someone’s heart rhythm often misses the broader context. Tests performed by a healthcare provider might yield normal results, but a week’s worth of data could uncover serious abnormalities, allowing for timely medical intervention.

Before bringing this T-shirt to market—which may take several years—researchers plan to conduct rigorous tests with heart patients and volunteers. They are leveraging data from over 1,000 individuals, some with inherited conditions and some without, to develop algorithms that could identify dangerous heart rhythms.

This project, led by Zachary Winnett, a cardiology professor at Imperial College London, is set to provide smart T-shirts to 200 volunteers over a three-month period to evaluate their effectiveness in identifying heart abnormalities.

These T-shirts, made from a sportswear-like material, include up to 50 EKG-like sensors sewn into the fabric. They can be worn discreetly under regular clothing during various activities, including while sleeping.

Among those involved in developing this technology is Carly Benge, a 38-year-old school teacher. She shared her thoughts with Medical Xpress: “You can wear this T-shirt for weeks, wash it, and wear it again, so it’s much more practical than portable ECGs.”

Carly was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, an inherited heart rhythm disorder, later in life. She has two children, ages 7 and 10, who may have inherited this condition as well, leaving her with many unanswered questions. She expressed hope that the T-shirt could provide her family with crucial insights.

“I joined this study because I want to give my children a better chance for an early diagnosis if they have Brugada syndrome,” she noted. “Catching Brugada early could prevent sudden death, allowing parents like me to feel more secure about our children’s safety.”