Landmark Study Validates Caristo Diagnostics' CaRi-Heart Technology

OXFORD, England, Nov. 11, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Caristo Diagnostics, a global leader in AI-powered cardiovascular technology, has announced the publication of landmark research in JAMA Cardiology that validates the company’s CaRi-Heart technology. The study, involving 19,110 patients, highlights the significant prognostic value of measuring coronary inflammation, a factor that can predict cardiovascular events more accurately than traditional methods.

The research, led by the University of Oxford, found that a very high coronary inflammation assessment in patients with a calcium score of zero was associated with a 14.1 times higher risk of cardiovascular death. Similarly, a very high coronary inflammation assessment without calcified or non-calcified plaque was linked to a 10.4 times higher risk of cardiovascular death. These findings underscore the importance of considering coronary inflammation in cardiovascular risk assessment, as it adds vital prognostic information even in the absence of calcified or non-calcified plaque.

The study also revealed that 51% of major cardiovascular events and 42% of cardiovascular deaths occurred in patients with a calcium score below 100. Among patients with a calcium score of zero who subsequently died from cardiovascular causes, the CaRi-Heart technology correctly reclassified nearly half as high- or very high-risk. This reclassification is significant because it suggests that a substantial number of patients previously considered low-risk are actually at a much higher risk of cardiovascular events.

Caristo Diagnostics' technology, the CaRi-Heart, uses artificial intelligence to analyze the fat surrounding the coronary arteries, known as pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT), on a routine coronary CT angiogram (CCTA). This analysis, quantified by the FAI-Score, predicts cardiovascular death independently of traditional risk factors and plaque, adding significant prognostic value beyond calcium scoring.

The company's technology is now being expanded to non-contrast CT scans, which are commonly used for calcium scoring. This expansion could bring FAI-Score for coronary inflammation assessment to the millions of asymptomatic individuals undergoing routine non-contrast scans. Caristo Diagnostics was named a 2026 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum, highlighting the company's commitment to innovation in cardiovascular care.

These findings have important implications for clinical management, as they suggest that a significant number of patients previously considered low-risk are actually at a much higher risk of cardiovascular events. By incorporating coronary inflammation assessment into risk prediction, physicians can better identify and manage patients at risk, potentially improving outcomes and reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease.