Cardiac imaging

Problem

Many cardiac diseases present with a common syndrome: heart failure or arrhythmia. There are several therapeutic options for treating these diseases, which can sometimes be very expensive or involve a certain risk for the patient.

The group’s research focuses on non-invasive identification, using imaging techniques, of the myocardial and electrical pathophysiological substrate in order to be able to select the best therapeutic option for each patient, as well as identify those patients with the highest risks.

This level of description and identification, which we can achieve with imaging techniques, also allows us to evaluate the impact of new therapies.

Approach

This is a multidisciplinary group and includes professionals who are experts in the various aspects of non-invasive heart imaging. It performs research on cardiac mechanics in various cardiovascular conditions, such as arrhythmias, heart valve diseases and heart failure, as well as heart adaptation to physical training.

Based on clinical observation, the group applies cardiac imaging techniques to evaluate the functioning of the heart. In this way, it can identify patients at risk of heart disease or complications. And, thanks to its research, it can also calculate the effect of a certain therapy on the heart’s activity.

Impact

The group’s goal is to improve the tools that enable the identification of patients at risk of suffering from heart disease, as well as those who may respond better to a specific treatment. Therefore, its hope is to obtain results in both prevention and the achievement of a more accurate diagnosis.

Its research is also helping to improve the treatment of heart failure, valvular illnesses and heart rhythm disorders. As a whole, its work is also leading to better survival rates and a better quality of life for patients with cardiovascular diseases, as well as a more efficient use of health resources.