Deep Learning Algorithm Detects Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome with Expert-Level Accuracy

The algorithm analyzes chest x-rays to detect this common, but under-recognized, critical illness syndrome.

2:51 PM

Author | Megan VanStratt

lungs glowing white wire black background
Getty Images

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, or ARDS, is a life-threatening lung injury that progresses rapidly and can often lead to long-term health problems or death. Yet, it can be difficult for physicians to recognize. As a result, ARDS patients may not always receive the right care.

Now researchers at Michigan Medicine and the Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care, or MCIRCC, may have a solution.

"In our previous work, we found that physicians have difficulty identifying findings of ARDS on chest x-rays," says Michael Sjoding, M.D., a pulmonary critical physician at Michigan Medicine and lead author of the study. "Early recognition and treatment are key factors in treating ARDS.  Delays can be catastrophic."

Like Podcasts? Add the Michigan Medicine News Break on iTunes, Google Podcast or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

To address this problem, the research team developed a new artificial intelligence algorithm that analyzes chest x-rays for ARDS.

In a study published in Lancet Digital Health, the team showed that it could, in fact, identify ARDS findings with higher accuracy than many physicians. It also performed well when it was externally validated in patients from another hospital system.

Behind the algorithm creation

Developing the algorithm was no small task.

"These types of algorithms are very 'data hungry'," says Dr. Sjoding, "which means they need a large amount of data to learn from."

The algorithm they used, a type of machine-learning model called deep convolutional neural networks, or CNNs, had 121 layers and 7 million parameters.

Using an innovative approach, the team then trained the algorithm to identify common radiologic findings, but not ARDS, on 450,000 chest x-rays from publicly available sources.

Then they trained the algorithm to detect ARDS using a unique dataset of 8,000 chest x-ray studies carefully reviewed and annotated for ARDS by Michigan Medicine physicians. This approach is called transfer learning, which has many parallels to how humans learn.

"Newborns might first learn to recognize simple objects like a cup or an apple before they recognize more sophisticated objects like a space shuttle," says Sardar Ansari, M.D., director of the MCIRCC Data Science Unit and a research assistant professor at Michigan Medicine. "The same principle is at play here. We build a model to perform a simpler task before repurposing it for a related, but more difficult, problem."

Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of the algorithm in a clinical setting, but the team at MCIRCC is confident that it will be game-changer.

They envision it will help physicians identify ARDS patients more quickly and accurately, and ensure patients receive evidence-based care. The tool could also accelerate ARDS research, Sjoding notes, "We now have a highly reliable way to identify ARDS patients, which will also allow us to study them more effectively."

"This is another great example of MCIRCC's team science approach bringing together clinicians, engineers, data scientists and others to solve significant challenges in critical care," says MCIRCC's executive director Kevin Ward, M.D. "The creative approach of using deep learning networks trained using transfer learning for ARDS detection will be a fundamental leap forward in ARDS care, especially in resource-challenged environments."

Paper cited: "Deep learning to detect acute respiratory distress syndrome on chest radiographs: a retrospective study with external validation," The Lancet. DOI: 10.1016/S2589-7500(21)00056-X  

MORE FROM THE LAB: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter


More Articles About: Health Tech Future Think Emerging Technologies Hospitals & Centers Lung Disease Testing Chronic Respiratory Insufficiency Lungs and Breathing
Health Lab word mark overlaying blue cells
Health Lab

Explore a variety of health care news & stories by visiting the Health Lab home page for more articles.

Media Contact Public Relations

Department of Communication at Michigan Medicine

[email protected]

734-764-2220

Stay Informed

Want top health & research news weekly? Sign up for Health Lab’s newsletters today!

Subscribe
Featured News & Stories see through blue person with red lines running through neck to chest
Health Lab
What is phrenic neuropathy?
Phrenic neuropathy is a condition that impacts the nerve around the diaphragm making it harder to breathe, especially in situations such as lying down or being in water. The condition is treatable, with surgical intervention, physical therapy or by letting it heal over time.
floating AI-type images in red and blues and yellow on blue background
Health Lab
Racial differences in medical testing could introduce bias to AI models
Black patients are less likely than white patients to receive certain medical tests that doctors use to diagnose severe disease, impacting artificial intelligence data. But researchers have found a way to correct the bias in these data sets.
surgeon close up operating in bright lighted room
Health Lab
In 10 seconds, AI model detects cancerous brain tumor often missed during surgery
Researchers have developed an AI powered model that — in 10 seconds — can determine during surgery if any part of a cancerous brain tumor that could be removed remains, a study published in Nature suggests.
clinical team and patient standing together
Health Lab
Planting a tree, and hope, for a heart healthy future
A complex mitral valve repair by Michigan Medicine cardiac specialists helps restore health and happiness to one Michigan patient and his family.
brain drawn
Health Lab
The brain in balance
In a recent study, using network neuroscience, investigators found a way to objectively determine the balance of integration and segregation in fMRI-measured brain signals during wakefulness as well as during sleep and anesthesia.
doctor with head and neck in hands sitting down seeming depressed or stressed
Health Lab
More research is needed to support physicians' mental health, experts say
A pair of researchers who have studied physician mental health and stress call for more efforts to supports to prevent burnout and support wellbeing.