A Scoping Review of the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Identification and Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background/objective: Atrial fibrillation [AF] is the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice and significantly increases the risk of stroke, peripheral embolism, and mortality. With the rapid advancement in artificial intelligence [AI] technologies, there is growing potential to enhance the tools used in AF detection and diagnosis. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the current knowledge on the application of AI, particularly machine learning [ML], in identifying and diagnosing AF in clinical settings.

Methods: Following the PRISMA ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted using the MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE databases, targeting studies involving AI, cardiology, and diagnostic tools. Precisely 2635 articles were initially identified. After duplicate removal and detailed evaluation of titles, abstracts, and full texts, 30 studies were selected for review. Additional relevant studies were included to enrich the analysis.

Results: AI models, especially ML-based models, are increasingly used to optimize AF diagnosis. Deep learning, a subset of ML, has demonstrated superior performance by automatically extracting features from large datasets without manual intervention. Self-learning algorithms have been trained using diverse data, such as signals from 12-lead and single-lead electrocardiograms, and photoplethysmography, providing accurate AF detection across various modalities.

Conclusions: AI-based models, particularly those utilizing deep learning, offer faster and more accurate diagnostic capabilities than traditional methods with equal or superior reliability. Ongoing research is further enhancing these algorithms using larger datasets to improve AF detection and management in clinical practice. These advancements hold promise for significantly improving the early diagnosis and treatment of AF.