Aitheroscope expands access to cardiovascular screening
We introduce the European project shortlisted for Fundación Mapfre Awards for Social Innovation
Awards
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death around the world, and Spain is no exception. Although the country ranks among those with the highest life expectancy in Europe, cardiovascular health remains a major challenge. According to the Spanish Ministry of Health, in 2024 heart disease accounted for 33.3% of all recorded deaths, surpassing cancer.
In response to this situation, Horus ML has developed Aitheroscope, a solution designed to transform how cardiovascular prevention is tackled within the healthcare system, particularly in primary care. It also addresses a critical reality: 50% of heart attacks occur in patients classified as having low cardiovascular risk.
So how does it work? It enables primary care professionals to identify hidden cardiovascular risk using equipment already available in many healthcare centers, without the need for referrals to specialized cardiology services.
The method is straightforward: an automated analysis of retinal images allows the early signs of atherosclerosis to be detected with a high degree of accuracy. An AI system, using advanced machine learning algorithms trained on clinical data to interpret medical images, generates diagnostic reports instantly, in real time, helping clinicians act quickly.
This procedure reduces reliance on costly technologies and specialized equipment, while enabling the continuous, personalized monitoring of at-risk patients. The system is also constantly improving thanks to its ability to learn from new clinical data.
Aitheroscope has been clinically validated using more than 1,000 patients in public hospitals across Spain. For these reasons, the judging panel of the Fundación Mapfre Awards for Social Innovation has shortlisted this project as a finalist from the Europe region.
On May 21, the Grand Final will take place in Madrid and will be streamed live on our website, featuring four innovative, socially driven projects. We wish them the very best of luck — because to us, they are all already winners!