COVID-19: Chinese Scientists Can Predict Fatal Infections Using 'Deep Learning'; Can This Prevent Future Deaths?

Fatal COVID-19 infections can now be predicted by Chinese scientists using deep learning technology. Could China's innovation help prevent future death cases? According to Techcrunch's latest report, many tech firms across the globe are developing new technologies that could be used to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Research published by the Nature Communications and JAMA Network showed that 6.5% of infected people can suddenly have serious health complications and their mortality rate could rise up to 48%. This lead medical experts and scientists across the globe to conduct experiments that would help them identify patients who might develop fatal or severe syndromes, allowing them to be treated as soon as possible.

According to the official website of Tencent, the research team established by Tencent AI Lab partnered with the group of Chinese public health scientists lead by Zhong Nanshan, to identify future fatal cases using AI's deep learning ability. Tencent explained that the two teams will provide guidance to disease outbreaks such as hand, foot, and mouth diseases, as well as influenza and the viral novel coronavirus. They will develop a screening mechanism connecting online and offline services to make it possible.

Fatal COVID-19 deep learning predictor

The Chinese scientists' team revealed its deep learning-based model this week, claiming that the innovation can tell if an individual will develop severe health illnesses from COVID-19. With the help of 575 medical centers in China, the scientists were able to base their model in a cohort of 1590 infected individuals, with further validation from 1393 patients.

The COVID-19 predictor was made available online by its developers so that clinical staff and other medical practitioners can calculate patients' probability of developing critical illness within 5, 10, and 30 days using ten clinical variables. You can also visit the website of the "Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health" to use the model.

Although the scientists said they will use it for COVID-19, the company's main goal is to use the gathered data and AI for screening, control, prevention, and warning of future outbreaks caused by respiratory diseases, as well as thoracic diseases. Other tech giants in China are also developing similar projects to contain virus outbreaks.

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