Improved cardiovascular risk communication by point-of-care ultrasound assessment with automated image analysis support for detection of atherosclerosis in primary care
Description: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention often fails due to non-adherence to prevention guidelines. Recent research shows that the addition of image-based risk communication improves adherence to CVD prevention guidelines among both patients and doctors. We are currently completing a decision support system for carotid ultrasound (US) reducing the operator dependency and allowing non-experts to perform this examination in primary care.Overall purpose of the project is to improve cardiovascular risk communication by point-of-care detection of atherosclerosis in primary care, using carotid US assessment with a decision support system based on automated image analysis.Work planThe 3-year project includes three substudies. First we will evaluate the decision support system by comparing US assessment performed by non-experts (nurse assistants) with the decision support system and US assessment performed by experts without the system. Then we will explore nurses’ experiences of utilizing image-based risk communication as part of a CVD prevention program in primary care, through qualitative interviews. And last, we will evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of US assessment with decision support relative to routine CVD prevention program in primary care.The long-term clinical significance of our work should be an improved CVD prevention by focusing on detection and visualization of atherosclerosis, the actual underlying disease, as the basis for risk communication.
Funder: Vetenskapsrådet
Amount: SEK 3,000,000
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: Project grant
Start date: 2023-12-01
End date: 2026-11-30
Investigator: Patrik Wennberg
Institution: Umeå University
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 2023-05695
OpenAlex ID: G7859285467