Organizing follow-up care for patients with macular retinal pathologies using artificial intelligence systems

BACKGROUND: The Order of the Ministry of Health of Russia “On Approval of the Procedure for the Provision of Medical Care to the Adult Population for Diseases of the Eye, Appendages, and Orbit” provides for equipping consultation and diagnostic departments of outpatient clinics with optical coherence tomographs. However, case follow-up of patients with retinal pathology is most commonly performed in ophthalmology centers, limiting treatment accessibility for patients with primary (newly diagnosed) pathologies requiring immediate treatment initiation. The available approach requires modification and intensification, including the use of artificial intelligence technologies.

AIM: To develop methodological foundations for organizing follow-up care for patients with posterior segment eye diseases using an artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The existing regulatory framework was analyzed based on the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, by-law framework, and judicial practice. A structured medical document describing an optical coherence tomography image was created using an expert method: a survey of 100 ophthalmologists with an appropriate education level, including additional professional training, engaged specialized medical care for patients with posterior segment eye diseases was performed.

RESULTS: Using an expert method, 123 binary features were selected to describe the structure of the macular area of the retina under normal and pathological conditions, with 26 features identified as predictors of a worsening clinical course of the disease.

CONCLUSION: The proposed classifier enabled the creation and training of a medical decision support system based on 60,000 medical images, which, as an information service, without making a diagnosis, can change the case follow-up process. Routing of patients is a primary service of the proposed system. If the clinical picture shows signs of deterioration, a referral to an ophthalmology center is considered to assess the course of the disease and provide specialized services, including high-tech medical care.