HCA Healthcare UK is partnering with Danish medical technology company VentriJect to introduce a test that estimates cardiorespiratory fitness without requiring patients to exercise.
The provider is rolling out VentriJect’s Seismofit device through its reAssure health screening programme.
A representative from HCA Healthcare UK told Building Better Healthcare that the rollout has started across all 46 of its Primary Care Health Screening sites in the UK.
Seismofit estimates VO2 max, a measure of the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during exercise, expressed in millilitres per minute per kilogram of body weight.
VO2 max is used as an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness, reflecting the body’s ability to transport and use oxygen during physical activity.
Traditional VO2 max tests typically measure oxygen consumption while a person exercises on a treadmill or stationary bike.
Seismofit estimates VO2 max while the patient is at rest, producing a result in under three minutes.
The device uses seismocardiography to detect tiny vibrations generated by the heart as it beats.
An AI algorithm analyses these signals, alongside demographic data, to estimate VO2 max. The result is delivered through an app.
“Cardiorespiratory fitness is one of the most powerful predictors of long-term cardiovascular health, yet traditional VO2 max testing has historically been inaccessible to those unable to undergo intense, exhausting physical exertion,” said Dr Niaz Khan, Chief Clinical Officer at HCA Healthcare UK Primary Care.
The technology will be incorporated into selected packages within HCA Healthcare UK’s reAssure programme, which offers doctor-led health assessments covering areas including heart health, cancer risk and genetic testing.
Appointments last between 45 and 135 minutes, with patients receiving a personalised report based on their diagnostic results.
Clinicians will be able to consider estimated VO2 max alongside other health measures when advising patients.
VentriJect Chief Executive Mikkel Kristiansen said the partnership would support the company’s expansion in the UK and make its VO2 max estimation technology available to more people through HCA Healthcare UK’s screening centres.
Seismofit is already used across Europe. HCA Healthcare UK has confirmed that the rollout has started at all 46 of its Primary Care Health Screening sites, although the specific reAssure packages that will include the test have not been confirmed.
