The technology, which works with digital stethoscopes, outperformed GPs at detecting valve disease, and could be used as a rapid screening tool in primary care. The results are reported in the journal npj Cardiovascular Health.

A silent but widespread threat

“Valve disease is a silent epidemic,” said Professor Anurag Agarwal from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering, who led the research.

“An estimated 300,000 people in the UK have severe aortic stenosis alone, and around a third don’t know it. By the time symptoms appear, outcomes can be worse than for many cancers.”