SHANGHAI, May 27 — Researchers in China are examining whether artificial intelligence can help general practitioners (GPs) detect carotid artery plaque, a key risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).

The study, led by the Department of General Practice at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, trained seven GPs across four Shanghai community health centers over five weeks before they screened 169 older adults at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Compared with expert ultrasonologists, the GPs correctly identified plaque 87% of the time and cleared patients without plaque 91% of the time. Overall agreement with expert readings was strong, though missed cases were concentrated at the fork where the carotid artery splits. Performance varied across the seven practitioners.

Carotid plaque is a buildup in the neck arteries linked to the onset of cardiovascular disease. Traditionally, detection requires specialist imaging. The findings suggest that structured training combined with AI-enhanced ultrasound could extend screening into community-level primary care, potentially broadening access for at-risk populations.

The study offers early evidence that AI-assisted diagnostic tools can support non-specialist physicians in identifying cardiovascular risks. Researchers caution that further validation is needed, but the results highlight the potential for integrating AI into frontline healthcare.

The paper, Diagnostic Performance of General Practitioners in Carotid Plaque Detection Using AI-Enhanced Point-of-Care Ultrasound After Systematic Training, was authored by Xiaochuan Liu, MD, and colleagues.