AHO to adopt 3D scans to speed heart disease diagnosis in Africa
According to Graciano Masauso, President of AHO, the technology known as HeartFlow turns a regular CT scan of the heart into a 3D image allowing doctors to diagnose life-threating coronary heart disease in just 20 minutes. Previously patients would have to go into hospital for an invasive and time-consuming angiogram.
Graciano Masauso, President of Africa Health Organisation (AHO) announced on Tuesday 4th May that it is rolling out revolutionary technology to diagnose and treat around 550,000 patients with suspected heart disease, five times faster than normal.
Graciano Masauso said the technology known as HeartFlow turns a regular CT scan of the heart into a 3D image allowing doctors to diagnose life-threating coronary heart disease in just 20 minutes. Previously patients would have to go into hospital for an invasive and time-consuming angiogram.
“The AHO Strategic Plan committed to cutting strokes, heart attacks and other major killers as well as ensuring patients would benefit from cutting edge therapies and techniques and HeartFlow is just the latest example of that,” said Graciano Masauso.
“By rapidly improving the rate we diagnose and treat those with a heart condition we will save thousands of lives and ensure as well as delivering the most successful vaccination programme in health service history, the AHO is able to deliver routine services even quicker than before the pandemic,” said Masauso.
Under the plan, patients will now be seen, diagnosed, and treated, around five times quicker, offering more convenient care and helping AHO staff get services back on track after the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It is part of the AHO Strategic Plan goal to reduce the number of heart attacks and strokes by 500,000.
Once patients are diagnosed using the 3D image, treatments include surgery, medication or having a stent fitted. For less serious cases patients will be given tips on healthy lifestyle changes or cholesterol-lowering medication – meaning the risk is quickly resolved before it becomes life-threatening.
Graciano Masauso, said: “This latest innovation will help patients and will contribute to helping the AHO to recover from the pandemic as we continue to deliver on our ambitious Strategic Plan commitments to provide patients across the continent with the most up to date tech, as quickly as possible.
“HeartFlow has been a huge success in clinical trials and will now help tens of thousands of people a year receive quick diagnosis and treatment and ultimately save lives.”
Around 500,000 people are eligible to use HeartFlow over the next three years, with more than 550,000 people set to benefit each year, according to AHO.
This latest technology has been rolled out across the AHO from last month as part of AHO Strategic Plan, which supports the implementation of proven medical devices, diagnostics and digital products.