The project will use artificial intelligence (A.I.), wearable technologies and electronic health record systems to identify patients who may have type 2 diabetes in Montreal, Quebec

The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) Foundation with Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., HOP Tech, and MEDTEQ+ are launching a new, three-year partnership to research and develop artificial intelligence (A.I.)-based technology to better screen for and identify type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in people 35 and up with cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.

One in three Canadians has diabetes or prediabetes, with T2DM accounting for up to 95 per cent of all diagnoses. Unfortunately, many Canadians are often screened for T2DM when they show T2DM-related health issues, such as heart disease and kidney damage. Using A.I.-based technologies to enhance screening measures, we can help reduce T2DM-related healthcare system burdens.

The DECIDE-CV program is one of the first of its kind in Canada, and one of the first multi-disciplinary collaborations aimed at using A.I.-based technologies to improve health outcomes for those with T2DM. Individuals in the program will use wearable devices to monitor T2DM-specific indicators and send that data to their healthcare team through electronic health records.

“Many people have developed T2DM and don’t know it until a major cardiovascular event occurs. In addition, there needs to be continual screening for T2DM among patients with cardiovascular risk factors,” says Dr. Abhinav Sharma, Chief of the DECIDE-CV clinic at McGill University Health Centre, researcher in the Cardiovascular Health Across the Lifespan Program at the RI-MUHC and a member of the Canadian Cardiovascular Guideline committee focused on diabetes and heart failure. “We are excited to join our partners in developing the DECIDE-CV program. With increased monitoring, doctors can quickly tailor their approach in caring for each patient based on their needs and the information collected – ultimately, improving population-level screening for T2DM in Canada.”

The program will start trials in spring 2022. To learn more about T2DM and the DECIDE-CV program, visit www.decidecv.ca.

Read the full press release on the MUHC Foundation website.

May 10, 2022