Kardi Ai: the Czech Startup Fighting Arrhythmia

What if you could prevent a huge number of deaths due to heart issues by just using a simple app?

Kardi Ai does exactly that: it helps track arrhythmia, a heart condition which on its own isn’t too dangerous, but over the long term can be the cause for many more serious conditions like stroke and heart attacks.

Kardi AI is a relatively new startup, started by a professor of cardiology and his neighbour. One day the neighbour was complaining about the holter he had to wear to detect if he had arrhythmia, a massive contraption that seriously impedes mobility. Worse yet, the holter has issues when recording instances of arrhythmia.

Measurements on the go

The solution that this unlikely duo came up with, explains Kardi Ai CEO Vlastimil Hrabal in an interview, is very much home in the 21st century.

When users subscribe to Kardi Ai’s service, they get access to the smartphone app and also get sent a belt. The belt is clasped over the chest and acts like a mobile ECG, measuring arrhythmia – and only arrhythmia. It cannot detect heart attacks and the like, which a “real” ECG can.

Kardi Ai works on a subscription system, with 5,000Kc getting you one year of use, and the belt. The belt is supposed to last, but can be replaced free of charge if there are any issues with it. Currently, Kardi AIi has 2,000 users in the Czech Republic, most of whom wear the belt every other day for a few hours. It’s usually worn during the day, while active, but can also be worn at night, a huge advantage over the holter.

As the belt measures heart activity, the built-in AI will alert users using a colour-coded system. Green means all is well and yellow means some issues were found, but more measurements are needed. Dark orange signals they may want to consult their cardiologist. Hrabal explains the original colour was red like with a traffic signal, but was replaced as the local regulator felt it was a little too alarming.

When you get your report, the doctor you’re working with also gets one, though that one is more detailed. If the doctor determines that you need a consultation or if there’s an emergency, they will let you know. That said, there’s no requirement to have a doctor when using the belt, and some customers are using it without professional guidance.

Finding arrhythmia

Since it’s been active, Kardi AI has detected arrhythmia in 29% of users, which is a much higher rate than when hooked up to an ECG in hospital, according to Hrabal. This is mostly due to arrhythmia not having symptoms as such, meaning that many people who suffer from it won’t get to a device on time to actually register an episode. Hrabal claims as many as 230 cases of serious arrhythmia have been detected, which could have led to fatalities.

These results have led to many in the medical profession being interested in Kardi Ai. Currently, the company is working with 130 cardiologists and in a partnership with EUC clinics and the IKEM cardiology center. Private insurance companies also see great potential and Hrabal claims several have shown interest, as have some banks which want to maintain a healthy workforce.

At time of writing, 99% of users are in Czechia, but the company is testing in Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, where expansion is planned for later this year. Hrabal seems confident that more doctors, insurers, and employers will sign on and the battle against arrhythmia may enter a decisive phase.

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