Why Is AI Important for Primary Care Patients With Respiratory Symptoms?

A new machine learning model trained with artificial intelligence triaged patients with respiratory symptoms before they visit a primary care clinic (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Triaging Patients With Artificial Intelligence for Respiratory Symptoms in Primary Care to Improve Patient Outcomes

Go to source). To train the machine learning model, the researchers used only questions that a patient might be asked about before a clinic visit. Information was extracted from 1,500 clinical text notes that included a physician's interpretation of the patient's symptoms and signs, as well as reasons for clinical decisions made during the consultation, such as imaging referrals and prescriptions.

The Use of AI for Respiratory Diseases Diagnosis

Patients were categorized into one of five diagnostic categories based on information in clinical notes. Patients from all primary care clinics in the capital area of Iceland were included. The model scored each patient in two extrinsic datasets and divided patients into 10 risk groups. The researchers then analyzed selected outcomes in each group.

Patients in risk groups 1-5 were younger, had lower rates of lung inflammation, were less likely to be re-evaluated in primary and emergency care, were less likely to receive antibiotic prescriptions or chest X-ray referrals, as compared to higher risk groups 6-10. The lowest five groups contained no chest X-rays with signs of pneumonia or a pneumonia diagnosis by a physician.

What We Know: Respiratory symptoms are common reasons people visit primary care clinicians . However, many of their symptoms are self-resolving. Researchers argue that triaging patients before physician consultations may reduce unnecessary diagnostic testing; health care costs; and overprescription of antibiotics, which can lead to greater bacterial resistance.

What This Study Adds: Researchers found that a machine learning model can effectively categorize patients among 10 risk groups, allowing clinicians to communicate with lower-risk patients in ways that don’t add to their heavy work schedule and can allow for them to care for higher-risk patients and those with severe respiratory symptoms.

Reference:

1. Triaging Patients With Artificial Intelligence for Respiratory Symptoms in Primary Care to Improve Patient Outcomes - (https://www.annfammed.org/content/21/3/240)

Source-Eurekalert