New research from Flinders University is strengthening the case for “effective artificial intelligence (AI) systems in cardiovascular care”.
Published in the International Journal of Medical Informatics, the systematic review examined 12 large international studies — narrowed down from a field of more than 700 — to “assess the strategies and pitfalls of creating the best systems for cardiovascular care”.
According to Flinders University, the study “examined how Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) can transform cardiovascular disease management by providing more accurate, timely decisions while addressing real-world barriers like workflow integration, usability and clinician adoption”.
‘Shifting disease management from reactive to proactive’
In a recently released statement by the university, lead study author and PhD candidate Samah Sallam said “effective AI-driven CDSS can shift disease management from reactive to proactive — moving healthcare towards early traction and personalised intervention”.
“Alongside skilled clinicians and staff, AI systems can reduce diagnosis delays, streamline intervention opportunities and manage more efficient hospital resources,” Ms Salam, from Flinders Business School, said.
“It can help to identify disease risk before symptoms emerge through pattern detection across patient data, and support rural and remote health by scaling across primary care and telemedicine with clinical supervision.
“AI works best as a complement to human expertise, not replacement, requiring transparent, deliberate implementation focused on underserved populations.”
‘Must get implementation right’
However, according to Flinders University, “equity challenges persist: training datasets may be biased, and most healthcare systems lack AI-integrated prevention protocols”.
Senior author Dr Madhan Balasubramanian, Research Lead at the Flinders Business School and Deputy Director of Health Care Management, said AI decision tools could save Australian lives from heart disease — “but only if we get the implementation right”.
According to Dr Balasubramanian, other NCDs, such as cancers, mental health conditions and oral health issues, could be significantly improved through the use of AI, particularly in addressing delays in access to care and advancing equity across the health system.
“Important elements identified included a coordinated governance framework, organisational commitment to CDSS adoption, integration and capacity building, clinician and patient engagement, ongoing training and regulatory alignment,” Dr Balasubramanian said.
‘Risks remain but rewards are great’
“While risks remain, the rewards are great,” Ms Salam added.
“Non-communicable diseases kill more people globally than infectious diseases, yet most are diagnosed late when treatment is costly and outcomes poor.
“Australia faces this challenge acutely: one in five will experience depression in their lifetime, while undetected dental disease affects millions, particularly in rural and remote communities.
“For decades, the gap between knowing what prevents these diseases and actually diagnosing and treating them has remained stubbornly wide.
“Artificial intelligence is closing that gap, not through a single breakthrough tool, but through a fundamental shift in how healthcare systems work.
“For Australian communities struggling with access, this transformation offers tangible hope.”
