Improved cardiovascular risk communication by point-of-care ultrasound assessment with automated image analysis support for detection of atherosclerosis in primary care

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.