ARISTOTELES is a Horizon Europe project funded under the HORIZON-HLTH-2022-STAYHLTH-01 call, Trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) tools to predict the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases and/or their progression. For the next five years a multidisciplinary consortium of 18 partners from 10 European countries, coordinated by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with the Principal Investigators from Universities of Modena (Prof Giuseppe Boriani) and Liverpool (Prof Gregory Y.H. Lip), will channel its energies and knowledge on the development of a multinational harmonized data platform to implement new artificial intelligence approaches (AI) for the management of complex diseases, in which the progression and manifestations of comorbidities occur through multiple interacting pathways. Through the integration of AI into clinical practice, the platform will be a key tool for the development and validation of new, reliable AI tools for more personalized risk assessment and management.

Transforming Healthcare Dynamics with AI

Artificial intelligence solutions (AIs) are increasingly used in clinical practice to detect or predict states or events and improve patient outcomes, however, the application of AIs to guide patient management is sparsely explored. AI can be implemented as a resourceful tool to engage patients and their caregivers, fostering a more interactive and informed healthcare experience. Moreover, AI paves the way for personalized prevention strategies, facilitating progress in risk prediction and early detection of comorbidities. By improving patients' awareness of the intricate aspects of their illnesses, AI empowers them to make informed decisions, adopt specific lifestyle changes, and take a proactive interest in their health journey. This paradigm shift not only enhances patient autonomy but also contributes to more effective and tailored healthcare interventions.

ARISTOTELES’ core objective is to harness the potential of AI as a trustworthy tool for predicting the risk and progression of chronic non-communicable diseases. This ambitious initiative revolves around the development of a multinational harmonized data platform, integrating novel AI approaches to manage diseases where comorbidities evolve through intricate pathways. These tools, with an initial focus on atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment, aim to provide more personalized risk assessment and management strategies, emphasizing a proactive and patient-centric approach to healthcare.

The project’s scope extends beyond AF, as the outputs are meant to be extended to other complex diseases with multimorbidity.

Notably, the novel AI approach developed by ARISTOTELES is designed to adapt to the real-world clinical context, where data integration may be incomplete, and information may be missing.

“There are great expectations in the community and in the medical field on the impact of AI in daily practice and patients with AF are ideal candidates to assess the potential of AI to improve cardiac management through new tools for risk predicting risk and evolution of co-morbidities. This will be evaluated in ARISTOTELS through the joint work of important experts in the field of AI and big data analysis and expert clinicians, in a patient-centred perspective” comments ARISTOTELES coordinator and principal investigator (PI), Giuseppe Boriani from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

Targeting Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac rhythm disorder worldwide. With adults aged ≥40 years facing a 1-in-3 lifetime risk of developing AF, the associated complications, including a five-fold increase in stroke and a 2-3-fold excess in mortality, emphasize the critical need for effective management. Despite the efficacy of available treatments when adhered to, suboptimal management and patient non-adherence remain persistent challenges, contributing to substantial treatment costs. Recognizing the multifaceted nature of AF, ARISTOTELES acknowledges that patients often present with or develop co-morbidities, such as heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary diseases, cognitive impairment, dementia, cancer, and mental health disorders. ARISTOTELES' innovative AI approach aims to address the complex interplay between AF and its associated comorbidities. The project's vision is to pioneer a novel risk stratification approach encompassing a broad spectrum of outcomes for AF patients, including those related to the arrhythmia and associated comorbidities. By applying AI insights, ARISTOTELES seeks to precisely stratify AF patients for screening and treatments, offering personalized care pathways that ultimately reduce adverse outcomes.

“This is a novel and innovative project harnessing the power of AI in the management pathway for atrial fibrillation, the commonest cardiac rhythm disorder, and an increasingly major public health burden.  We have a multidisciplinary collaboration which integrates data scientists and clinicians, facilitating the translation of novel AI methods to practical applications. 

We are all very excited by the opportunities our project offers and our learnings can be applied to many other chronic long-term conditions.” comments ARISTOTELES co-PI, Gregory Lip from the Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, at the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

Patient-Centred Approach

One of ARISTOTELES' unique features is its commitment to a patient-centred paradigm. The project aims to engage patients, their families, and caregivers using AI to monitor symptoms, seek appropriate care, and adopt lifestyle changes. By integrating AI into decision-making processes, ARISTOTELES plans to extend the reach of AI tools beyond physicians to empower patients to actively participate in their health management. ARISTOTELES will provide crucial inputs for implementing a continuously learning P4 model of medicine, focusing on predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory care for AF patients and associated comorbidities.

Total Horizon Europe grant: € 4 093 462,50

ARISTOTELES COORDINATOR and PIs

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Boriani (Coordinator, PI)

UNIVERSITÁ DEGLI STUDI DI MODENA E REGGIO EMILIA (IT)

Prof Gregory Lip (co-PI))

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (UK)

ARISTOTELES CONSORTIUM

• AALBORG UNIVERSITET (DK)
• UNIVERSIDAD SE MURCIA (ES)
• MOVERIM CONSULTING SPRL (BE)
• IOTIC SOLUTIONS SL (ES)
• UNIVERSITETET I OSLO (NO)
• UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE CAROL DAVILA DIN BUCURESTI (RO)
• PANEPISTIMIO KRITIS (EL)
• FONDAZIONE PER IL TUO CUORE ONLUS (IT)
• GERS SAS (FR)
• UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA (PT)
• THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL (UK)
• THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (UK)
• LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY (UK)
• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UK)
• IDOVEN 1903 SL (ES)
• DATRIVER SRL (IT)
• AIMES (UK)