Primary care clinics in Asia are utilizing AI-powered diagnostic tools to detect lung cancer and tuberculosis. AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, is involved in these projects. The use of AI-assisted chest X-rays helps identify individuals with suspicious lung markers and supports their referral to confirm a diagnosis. Portable X-ray systems integrated with AI technology allow algorithms to interpret radiology images, enabling doctors to identify lung nodules and automate the detection of up to 29 cancer markers. This technology saves time, costs, and resources for the healthcare system. Over 2.5 million scans have been performed as part of a project to screen 5 million people globally for lung cancer risk by 2025, with a focus on countries in Asia such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Data from various geographies, including Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, suggest that early lung cancer screening programmes with timely intervention could increase the five-year survival rate of patients by 73%. AI integration into existing lung screening programmes can help classify and distinguish between different respiratory diseases more accurately, such as tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma, and lung cancer. This technology can ensure patients receive the right diagnosis at an earlier stage of the disease, potentially transforming lung cancer from a fatal to a treatable condition. Ms Sylvia Varela, based in Singapore, emphasizes that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and has recently surpassed breast cancer in incidence.
In addition to detecting cancer, AI has also entered the realm of boosting birth rates in certain countries facing falling fertility rates. Virtus Fertility Centre Singapore (VFCS) uses AI technology in embryo selection during in vitro fertilization (IVF) processes. The AI-based software analyzes time-lapse imaging data captured every 10 minutes to identify embryos with the highest potential for developing a foetal heart and assigns each embryo a score. This allows the embryo with the highest score to be selected for transfer by the embryologist. Dr. Liow Swee Lian, the scientific director of VFCS, states that this AI technology makes the task of embryo selection 10 times faster than traditional methods, enhancing the efficiency of the IVF process and potentially improving success rates for couples undergoing fertility treatments.
The application of AI in healthcare, both in cancer detection and fertility treatments, showcases the potential for technology to enhance medical practices and improve patient outcomes. By utilizing AI-assisted tools for lung cancer screening, healthcare systems can save time and resources while increasing the chances of early diagnosis and treatment, ultimately improving the survival rates of patients. Similarly, AI technology in embryo selection during IVF procedures not only speeds up the process but also enhances the accuracy of selecting embryos with the highest potential for successful development. These advancements demonstrate how AI can revolutionize healthcare practices and contribute to the overall well-being of individuals seeking medical assistance for cancer diagnosis and fertility treatments.
Overall, the integration of AI technology into healthcare systems across Asia highlights the significant benefits it can bring in terms of early disease detection and treatment, as well as improving success rates in fertility treatments. As technology continues to advance, further innovations in AI-powered diagnostic tools are likely to play a crucial role in transforming medical practices and improving patient outcomes in various fields of healthcare. Cancer detection and fertility treatments are just a few examples of how AI is revolutionizing the healthcare industry, paving the way for more efficient and effective interventions that can ultimately save lives and improve quality of life for individuals around the world.
