Ludeman Center researcher and cardiologist David Kao, MD presented the latest findings in his research, “Heart Failure Research in the Age of Amazon” at the Annual Community Luncheon. Dr. Kao came to the University of Colorado after training at Stanford and Johns Hopkins. His research works to bring the spirit of Silicon Valley to the study of heart failure. With the mentorship of Ludeman Center founder Dr. JoAnn Lindenfeld and funded by Ludeman Center donors Karen and Steve Leaffer, his research represents a novel approach to personalized medicine.

Dr. Kao and his colleagues are using statistical analysis and prediction models like those used by Amazon and Google to more accurately and effectively treat heart failure in women. Dr. Kao stressed that 50% of all heart failure patients in the United Stated have the type of heart failure caused by a small, stiff heart, which primarily affects women and has high mortality. No therapy has proven effective for these patients to date. By implementing strategies used by Apple, Amazon, and Google to identify subgroups of users, identification of important groups of heart failure patients may be accelerated. By using this approach, Dr. Kao and his colleagues have identified a group of this type of heart failure patients who may benefit from a specific medication.