DALLAS — Siddarth Nandyala, a 14-year-old innovator, has created Circadian AI, an app that uses technology to detect heart disease quickly and easily. The app could revolutionize how cardiovascular diseases are identified and treated worldwide.
Early Detection Saves Lives
Heart disease is the leading cause of death globally, with nearly 20 million deaths reported in 2021. Early detection can prevent major health issues and reduce healthcare costs. Nandyala’s app helps identify heart problems early through a simple smartphone test, offering a potential solution to this pressing health challenge.
“Even one life detected is one life saved,” Nandyala says, highlighting the importance of early intervention.
A Teen’s Vision and AI Innovation
Now a freshman at the University of Texas at Dallas, Nandyala’s passion for technology began when he was 12, creating a $150 prosthetic arm. He later founded STEM IT to promote STEM education and earned recognition from former President Joe Biden.
Inspired by AI’s potential to save lives, Nandyala focused on heart disease and spent months developing Circadian AI. The app records heart sounds through a smartphone, analyzes the data using machine learning, and provides results in seconds, identifying normal heart function or potential issues.
Real-World Success
Nandyala tested the app with hospitals and institutions, collecting data from 15,000 U.S. patients and 3,500 in India. The app achieved an accuracy rate above 96%, with successful trials at Government General Hospital in Guntur, India.
Medical Experts Weigh In
Heart specialist Jameel Ahmed from Louisiana State University sees the app’s potential to benefit underserved communities, though he notes that smartphone microphone quality may affect accuracy. He emphasizes that the app should complement, not replace, traditional diagnostic tools.
Nandyala agrees, saying the app is a screening tool to encourage users to seek further medical tests.
Expanding the Technology
Beyond heart disease, Nandyala is adapting Circadian AI to detect conditions like pneumonia and fluid retention. With regulatory approval underway, the app is set to expand to healthcare facilities worldwide, especially in regions with limited medical infrastructure.
“This journey has been incredibly rewarding,” says Nandyala, whose innovation is only just beginning to transform global healthcare.
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