AI4HealthyCities: Understanding Urban Cardiovascular Health Inequities through Artificial Intelligence
Funder: Novartis Foundation (Switzerland)
Location: New York, Singapore, Helsinki
Themes: Urban health, cardiovascular disease, social determinants of health, artificial intelligence, ethnographic research, health equity
The Challenge
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and its burden is growing fastest in cities. Urban environments present unique challenges as risk factors like air pollution, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and stress can compound, significantly impacting residents and exacerbating their risk. Underlying this trend are complex social, economic, environmental, digital, and psychosocial factors—the social determinants of health—that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, leading to persistent health inequities. Understanding how these factors interact and drive unequal cardiovascular outcomes in diverse urban contexts is crucial for developing effective and targeted interventions.
Our Projects
AI4HealthyCities is a global initiative led by the Novartis Foundation in partnership with researchers at University College London and local stakeholders in New York, Singapore, and Helsinki. This project focuses on understanding the specific dynamics of cardiovascular disease within urban populations. Building on the growing recognition of AI’s potential in public health, researchers employ a unique approach that pairs deep lived experience data gathered through in-depth ethnographic research methods with advanced data analytics and predictive modelling. By integrating qualitative insights with AI-driven analytics, the project seeks to:
- Identify the complex social, cultural, and environmental determinants of health that most significantly contribute to cardiovascular health inequities in each urban setting.
- Ensure the inclusion of data from the most vulnerable populations to inform equitable health policies and interventions.
- Gain a deeper understanding of urban health behaviors and barriers to care through direct community engagement and participant observation, leading to more effective, culturally relevant interventions to improve health outcomes and reduce premature mortality.
- Tailor interventions to local contexts by understanding the nuances of each urban environment. The diverse locations of New York, Singapore, and Helsinki allow for valuable comparative analysis.
Methodology
Following extensive quantitative analyses undertaken as part of AI4Healthy Cities, UCL researchers joined the project to deepen the understanding of the key non-medical / social determinants of health relevant to heart health equity. The team’s contribution to AI4HealthyCities is gathering input from experts, local communities, and at-risk populations to define the best approach for identifying and addressing key social and behavioral determinants of heart health.
Quantitative Data Validation
Stakeholder Engagement
Collaborate with local academic partners and stakeholders to develop and adapt research instruments for this project
Qualitative Research
Collect rich qualitative data through ethnographic methods to understand the lived experiences, perspectives, and social contexts of individuals and communities in relation to cardiovascular health
Vulnerability Assessments
Conduct expert interviews, roundtables, focus group discussions, and in-depth vulnerability assessments to identify historically hidden and underserved populations
Cross-Data Collaboration & AI Analytics
Leverage advanced analytics and AI to analyze data and identify patterns and relationships between social determinants and cardiovascular outcomes
- Validate the initial data-driven findings from AI4HealthyCities
- Collaborate with local academic partners and stakeholders to develop and adapt research instruments for this project
- Collect rich qualitative data through ethnographic methods to understand the lived experiences, perspectives, and social contexts of individuals and communities in relation to cardiovascular health.
- Conduct expert interviews, roundtables, focus group discussions, and in-depth vulnerability assessments to identify historically hidden and underserved populations (with target numbers of 90-125 assessments in New York and 45 in Singapore)
- Leverage advanced analytics and AI to analyze data and identify patterns and relationships between social determinants and cardiovascular outcomes.
Findings
The findings from the AI4HealthyCities project will provide actionable insights for policymakers, public health organizations, and urban planners. By identifying the key drivers of cardiovascular health inequities in diverse urban environments, this research will contribute to the development of more effective, targeted, and equitable strategies to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases and promote heart health for all urban dwellers. The emphasis on including vulnerable populations in the data analysis ensures that future interventions are informed by the needs of those most at risk.
Key Researchers (The Lived Experience Lab, University College London)
- Anna-Maria Volkmann (Research Lead, Vulnerability Assessments and SDoH Survey)
- David Napier (Global Expert Council)
- Wenqing Zhang (Global Project Manager)
- Emma Boxley (Vulnerability Assessments & SDoH Survey)
- Lillian Kerns (Junior Researcher)
Partners
- Weill Cornell
- Weill Cornell
- National University of Singapore
- University of Helsinki
