Researchers at the European Society of Cardiology’s scientific congress, EHRA 2025, have unveiled a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that can calculate the biological age of the heart based on electrocardiogram (ECG) data. This innovative tool promises to identify individuals at a higher risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.
While everyone has a chronological age — determined by the number of years since birth — the heart can have a different “biological” age. This biological age depends on how well the heart is functioning. For example, a 50-year-old with poor heart health might have a biological heart age of 60, whereas a healthy 50-year-old could be assessed as having a biological heart age of just 40.
The research, led by Associate Professor Yong-Soo Baek from Inha University Hospital in South Korea, analyzed ECG data from nearly half a million cases. The team found a significant correlation between a heart’s biological age and cardiovascular risk. When the heart’s biological age exceeds its chronological age by seven years, the risk of serious health issues, including death, increases sharply. Conversely, if a person’s biological heart age is seven years younger than their actual age, their risk of experiencing major cardiovascular events is reduced.
Baek emphasized the potential of AI to improve risk assessment in cardiology. “Using AI to develop algorithms introduces a potential paradigm shift in cardiovascular risk assessment,” he explained.
This advancement in technology highlights the importance of maintaining heart health, as understanding the biological age of the heart can lead to more personalized and effective healthcare strategies. The research offers hope for early intervention and better management of cardiovascular diseases, making it a significant development in the field of cardiology.
As researchers continue to explore the potential of AI in healthcare, this study may pave the way for more innovative solutions to monitor and improve heart health for people worldwide.
