The use of artificial intelligence to identify ophthalmic biomarkers in cardiovascular disease and stroke: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke are among the leading causes of death worldwide.

OBJECTIVE

This article presents a review of the application of artificial intelligence in identifying biomarkers for CVD and stroke.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Narrative review conducted by a research group at the Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted to identify the main applications of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology, using the keywords "artificial intelligence," "prediction," "biomarker," "cardiovascular disease," "retina," and "stroke," covering the period from January 1, 2018, to July 3, 2023. The Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE, via PubMed) and the Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, LILACS, via the Virtual Health Library) were used to identify relevant articles.

RESULTS

A total of 30 references were retrieved, of which 14 were considered eligible for intensive review and critical analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Artificial intelligence has proven effective in identifying non-invasive biomarkers through the analysis of patients' retinal examinations. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of CVD and stroke.