By leveraging AI technology, new solutions can be developed to minimize risk for heart diseases

OMRON aims to make the best use of artificial intelligence technology, fully utilizing blood pressure and other vital signs data monitored at home to manage health and prevent disease from developing and progressing.

To achieve this, OMRON Healthcare partnered with Kyoto University in a collaborative research project called "Healthcare AI Workshop". Launched on June 1, 2021, the project is developing an unprecedented type of healthcare AI, aimed at facilitating hypertensive patients’ blood pressure control and minimizing risk for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases.

Creating a personalized blood pressure management method — Development of personalized blood pressure improvement AI 

More effective approach for better blood pressure control

According to the Japanese Society of Hypertension’s Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension 2019, 30 percent of hypertensive patients undergoing treatment do not have their blood pressure properly controlled.

OMRON Healthcare's blood pressure monitors equipped with Artificial Intelligence can provide optimized control for patients

This workshop aims to develop AI for a blood pressure control method customized for each patient from vital signs data monitored at home and lifestyle data, such as cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption.

Blood pressure fluctuates constantly throughout the day. Numerous factors cause changes to blood pressure, including meals, exercise, sleep, stress, ambient temperature, etc., and the patterns of changes also vary by person. OMRON Healthcare offers a wearable blood pressure monitor enabling measurement anytime during the day, and a nocturnal blood pressure monitor. These devices can be used to detect blood pressure fluctuations in the course of a normal day, and AI can be used to discover the causal factors for blood pressure changes. This in turn will enable  medication planning and lifestyle improvement programs that are optimized for individuals. Once it becomes possible to customize blood pressure control for individual patients, patient motivation to  high blood pressure treatment will also increase, while the burden on physicians can be reduced.

Early detection of cerebrovascular/ cardiovascular events making use of self-monitored health data.

Developing AI to detect warning signs of cerebrovascular/ cardiovascular events
Even if a patient appropriately controls blood pressure, it is insufficient to completely eliminate the onset of serious events such as strokes or heart attacks. Enabling early-stage detection for such events is a key health challenge. Simply controlling blood pressure is not enough to reduce the incidence of cerebrovascular/cardiovascular diseases to zero. Because of this limitation, the research workshop will work to develop AI technology capable of detecting warning signs for these life-threatening events based on the blood pressure readings, ECG data, etc., patients can take on a daily basis.

Everyday living can be more healthy and secure with appropriate blood pressure control.

The goal is to create an environment in which hypertensive patients will receive fully personalized healthcare on a timely basis, making best use of health data patients measure at home. This will help eliminate concern regarding strokes or heart attacks, and enable patients to lead healthy lives with effective blood pressure control. And as we continue to advance our consultation support service, we will also seek to reduce the burden on medical professionals, which is a critical social challenge today.