Artificial intelligence: Applications in cardio-oncology and potential impact on racial disparities

Numerous cancer therapies have detrimental cardiovascular effects on cancer survivors. Cardiovascular toxicity can span the course of cancer treatment and is influenced by several factors. To mitigate these risks, cardio-oncology has evolved, with an emphasis on prevention and treatment of cardiovascular complications resulting from the presence of cancer and cancer therapy. Artificial intelligence (AI) holds multifaceted potential to enhance cardio-oncologic outcomes. AI algorithms are currently utilizing clinical data input to identify patients at risk for cardiac complications. Additional application opportunities for AI in cardio-oncology involve multimodal cardiovascular imaging, where algorithms can also utilize imaging input to generate predictive risk profiles for cancer patients. The impact of AI extends to digital health tools, playing a pivotal role in the development of digital platforms and wearable technologies. Multidisciplinary teams have been formed to implement and evaluate the efficacy of these technologies, assessing AI-driven clinical decision support tools. Other avenues similarly support practical application of AI in clinical practice, such as incorporation into electronic health records (EHRs) to detect patients at risk for cardiovascular diseases. While these AI applications may help improve preventive measures and facilitate tailored treatment to patients, they are also capable of perpetuating and exacerbating healthcare disparities, if trained on limited, homogenous datasets. However, if trained and operated appropriately, AI holds substantial promise in positively influencing clinical practice in cardio-oncology. In this review, we explore the impact of AI on cardio-oncology care, particularly regarding predicting cardiotoxicity from cancer treatments, while addressing racial and ethnic biases in algorithmic implementation.