ESC launches its first Digital & AI Summit to advance cardiovascular innovation

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will host its first Digital & AI Summit in Berlin on 21-22 November, bringing together global experts in cardiology, technology, and healthcare. This two-day event will spotlight the latest artificial intelligence (AI) developments and explore how digital innovation can drive life-saving progress in cardiovascular care.

The summit's 61 sessions will include three roundtables in which academic and industry experts, along with patient representatives, will discuss trustworthiness and user friendliness of AI, as well as issues surrounding regulation, cost and policies for integrating the technology.

"Clinical implementation of AI is currently the final frontier we are trying to reach, yet some 90% of what we have so far are developments, proof-of-concept studies and early validations," says Summit co-chair Associate Professor Nico Bruining, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands. "Few AI tools are in clinical use today because they still need validation, regulatory approval, and financing. Post-market surveillance, ethical safeguards, patient acceptance, and clinician education are also essential for successful implementation."

"These roundtables provide key information and debate on these crucial topics, allow the audience to connect with one another and build communities, and may even lead to publications. They also aim to inform policymakers and media, whose accurate reporting is essential for public understanding as AI evolves."

The first roundtable, Trustworthiness of AI, will include a talk by Frank Rademakers, Emeritus Professor of Medicine at KU Leuven, Belgium, who says: "AI tools should not be treated differently from other diagnostic and therapeutic agents that we use in medicine. They should be evaluated for their intended purpose in the intended population and context with appropriate clinical investigations, including but not exclusively randomised controlled trials. In contrast with most drugs and medical devices, however, AI software can 'drift' during use., and also further learn and improve with use; so more emphasis should be placed on post-market continuous evaluation of each AI tool during its real-world use in specific environments."

Giving a patient perspective at that same roundtable session will be Inga Drossart of the ESC Patient Forum, Berlin, Germany. She says: "AI in cardiology and medicine should feel like a tool that supports, not replaces the human care and connection. When patients are involved in shaping and improving these tools, AI can truly enhance care while keeping the things like empathy, communication and the human touch at the heart of medicine."

The roundtable on User experience with AI will include a presentation by David Duncker, Head of the Hannover Heart Rhythm Center, Germany. "Clinician trust is key to successfully using AI in ECG diagnostics. Ongoing education helps build this trust by explaining AI technologies and clarifying what they can and can't do. For example, Holter ECG analysis by AI is already implemented into clinical practice. But while prediction of future atrial fibrillation in sinus rhythm ECGs worked in some studies, it is not yet ready to use for clinical decision-making," Duncker says.

The last of the three roundtables, Regulations, policies and economics for AI, will include a diverse group of participants including Professor Alan Fraser, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK. Professor Fraser says: "Referring uncritically to the potential of 'artificial intelligence' in general is not constructive; we should consider each application more precisely. Innovation in healthcare led by technological advances looking for clinical applications is misguided.

"There is wide consensus that risk-based, proportionate regulation is needed but an accepted scientific framework and detailed standards are lacking. Key requirements must include full transparency of performance of any new tool in a large independent retest study that is representative of the target population of use."

AI has already shown great promise in cardiology, but trust, usability, cost, safety and regulations are key to integrating it into clinical practice. The roundtables at the ESC Digital & AI Summit will explore these critical issues with insights from a wide range of experts. We hope to see you there!"

Nico Bruining, Associate Professor, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands