Using AI to monitor lung fluid in sudden (acute) heart failure in the ER
Official title: An AI-Assisted Strategy for Monitoring Pulmonary Congestion in Acute Heart Failure Patients in Emergency Settings
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11267990 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will use an AI-assisted lung ultrasound method to track lung congestion in people who come to the emergency department with acute heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $673,366 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB035679-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11267990 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who present to the emergency department with symptoms of acute heart failure and suspected pulmonary congestion (shortness of breath, fluid overload) would be the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without heart failure, those with chronic stable heart failure not seeking acute care, children, or patients unable to undergo lung ultrasound likely would not benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If you come to the ER with sudden worsening heart failure and shortness of breath, clinicians would get quick bedside lung ultrasound images while you are being treated. An AI tool would help read those images so doctors can track how much fluid is in your lungs day-to-day without waiting for slower tests. Care teams could use those real-time results to guide diuretics and other treatments to help relieve congestion before discharge. The work builds on earlier clinical studies showing lung ultrasound finds changes in congestion faster than usual measures and aims to remove the need for a specialized human reader.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians find and remove lung fluid faster, lowering the chance of readmission or short-term death after an ER visit for acute heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: Prior clinical work (BLUSHED-AHF and CARVD-AHF) showed daily lung ultrasound captures congestion changes faster and can guide therapy, while the AI automation approach is a newer, building step.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kapur, Tina — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kapur, Tina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stepwise water‑pill (diuretic) plan versus usual care for people with acute heart failure in the emergency room
This project compares a step-by-step plan for giving water pills to usual care to help people with sudden worsening heart failure in the emergency room remove extra fluid and feel better sooner.
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Using AI to monitor fluid buildup in patients with acute heart failure in emergency settings
This study is looking at how using a special ultrasound tool can help doctors better check for fluid buildup in the lungs of patients with acute heart failure in emergency rooms, so they can get the right treatment faster and leave the hospital feeling better.
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Improving hospitalization decisions for emergency patients with heart failure
This study is looking at how to help doctors decide if patients with acute heart failure should be admitted to the hospital or can safely recover at home, by considering important factors about their health and personal situations.
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Understanding changes in kidney function during acute heart failure
This study is looking into how heart failure affects kidney function, especially in veterans, to find specific markers that can help doctors understand the different reasons for kidney problems during heart failure, ultimately aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients.
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Comparing two approaches to diuretic therapy for patients with acute heart failure in the emergency department
This study is looking at whether a special plan for using diuretics can help people with acute heart failure feel better and recover faster in the emergency department compared to the usual care they receive.
-
Improving how we diagnose acute heart failure
This study is working on a new way to help doctors more accurately diagnose acute heart failure in patients who come to the emergency room with symptoms like shortness of breath, so they can get the right treatment faster and feel better sooner.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.