A research prototype was conceptualised and designed by HeartsSight CEO, Jane Hinchliffe. Research was carried out between 2004-2012 by medical institutions in Great Britain, Israel and Russia. 

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the research into validating the methodology behind the assessment process consisted of two studies.

Pilot Study

In 2004 with a pilot study group at a GP practice in a Huddersfield Primary Care Trust (PCT),  which involved 70 patients who were frequent attendees and often problem cases (in that they were frustrated in the failure to find a solution to their symptoms but were often remiss in following treatment advice). 

An independent survey 9 months after the study showed a 40% reduction in repeat visits from these patients and nearly 12% returned to work. 

Patient self-evaluation also showed that 92% claimed to take more responsibility for their health after taking part in the study. 

Cardiac Study

In 2009, a 30-patient study was undertaken in conjunction with the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. 

Our non-invasive assessment process was used to diagnose Ischemic Heart Disease, with results being compared with conventional clinical cardiac tests (Catheterisation data involving invasive surgery). 

Results showed a 96.6% correlation in findings of Ischemic burden (combined Stenosis and Ischemia) between the health assessment and invasive clinical methods and a 76% correlation in findings of Stenosis (narrowing) of the coronary arteries. 

These findings were presented at the 57th Annual Congress of the Israeli Heart Society (IHS), in April 2010. 

Phase 2

Phase 2 was designed to establish reproducibility and reliability against conventional diagnosis methods, and show effectiveness as a predictive assessment process, to identify potential diseases up to two years in advance of conventional diagnosis. 

General Health Study

A technician led primary healthcare assessment identifying disease or disease risk within one of 10 ICD categories.

This study ran between 2010-2012, and studied 297 subjects from the general Russian population and 171 hospitalised patients with known diseases. It was carried out at NRCERM hospital, St Petersburg, Russia. 

The objective was to assess the validity and reproducibility of the software system as compared a conventional GPs assessment. 

After 2 years the level of diagnostic agreement and categorisation was 96.5% between our computerised diagnosis and conventional clinical GPs diagnosis. 

A sample of subjects were re-tested in 2012 to determine if disease conditions that were predicted in 2010 were manifest after a 2-year period. 

Of the cases recalled for re-analysis in 2012, 70% of predicted disease cases in 2010 were verified by medical diagnosis in 2012. A further 22% of cases were identified as still at risk of disease development at this stage. 

We have identified test parameters that are good predictors and indicators of cardiovascular disease risk. Many of these parameters are novel and, when grouped together with conventional CVD risk indicators, give an excellent tool for diagnosis and prevention of one of the biggest threats to mortality.  

 Obesity and Stress Research

The research showed that stress is a key influence on body morphology in both men and women, with high stress levels having a more pronounced influence on obesity in women.  

Stress is a major risk factor that is now integrated into the software for the prediction of disease risk for obesity and other disorders including CVD.