To celebrate #WorldHeartDay, we wanted to highlight the incredible work being done by Idoven’s clinical team. We spoke with Dr. Daniel Corrochano Diego, a highly experienced cardiologist with over 9 years of practice at Hospital del Henares and Hospital Severo Ochoa de Leganés (Madrid). For the past 3 years, Dr. Corrochano has been a key member of Idoven, specializing in cardiological diagnosis through AI-powered tools.

How did your passion for cardiology begin? Do you recall a key moment that led you to choose this specialty?

From a very young age, I’ve been passionate about sports and the connection between physical activity and heart health, and this along with the heart’s importance in athletic performance is what fascinated me. The more I learned about cardiology, the more my interest grew. A key moment in my decision was seeing sedentary patients who had suffered heart attacks take up exercise to care for their hearts, eventually becoming avid sports enthusiasts.

In your opinion, what have been the biggest advancements in cardiology in recent years?

Cardiology has made great strides recently, and it’s hard to single out just a few. Significant advancements have been made in imaging diagnostics and minimally invasive surgeries. However, what stands out to me the most is progress in early diagnosis, where we can detect diseases even before symptoms appear, allowing us to treat patients earlier, prevent complications, and ultimately improve their quality of life.

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, one of the most common arrhythmias. What recent advancements have been made in its diagnosis and treatment?

Ablation treatments have become more refined, but what’s truly remarkable is the use of AI. By combining biochemical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic markers, AI can help predict which patients are at risk of developing atrial fibrillation. This enables us to anticipate its onset or address the risk factors that may lead to the arrhythmia.

What warning signs should we be aware of in our daily lives to identify potential heart problems?

It’s difficult to give general recommendations since symptoms can manifest differently in each patient. That said, it's important to seek medical advice if you experience chest pain, unexplained fatigue during activities that didn’t previously cause it, palpitations, or sudden loss of consciousness.

What preventive measures can we take to improve our cardiovascular health?

We should follow a balanced, healthy diet, avoid harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol, and engage in aerobic exercise combined with strength training to improve overall health and manage weight. It’s also essential to schedule regular checkups with your primary care doctor to monitor cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes.

What role is artificial intelligence currently playing in healthcare?

AI tools are increasingly becoming part of everyday practice, helping to make healthcare professionals’ work more efficient. Currently, AI is used for synthesizing bibliographic research, which allows us to analyze new studies and publications more accurately. It's also being applied for the rapid and precise analysis of medical images and data interpretation.

How can artificial intelligence help improve patients' quality of life?

Once we fully integrate these tools into the healthcare system, we will see substantial progress in early diagnosis and personalized treatments tailored to each patient, which will significantly improve patients' quality of life.

Technology is advancing rapidly. How do you see AI impacting your day-to-day work as a doctor, and how do you think it will impact the future?

AI helps me stay up-to-date with the latest diagnostic and treatment innovations through synthesized bibliographic research, and it aids in reviewing electrocardiographic monitoring and performing echocardiographic measurements with greater precision and speed. In the future, AI will enable us to diagnose earlier, more efficiently, and provide highly personalized treatments that are tailored to each patient’s unique characteristics.

“With AI, we can deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments that will greatly improve patients' quality of life.”

What excites you the most about being part of Idoven’s medical team?

I’m excited to contribute my knowledge and expertise to developing a tool that will greatly facilitate the work of healthcare professionals in the near future, benefiting both doctors and patients.

What would you say to other healthcare professionals considering getting involved in technological projects like Idoven?

I would say that technology and AI are the future of medicine. The sooner we develop and adapt to these innovations, the more they will enhance our work and improve the quality of life for our patients.