Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41129087›Full record

ArticleThe international journal of cardiovascular imaging2026

Unsupervised phenotypic clustering of cardiac MRI data reveals distinct subgroups associated with outcomes in ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Gaetano Nucifora, Daniele Muser, Joshua Bradley, Zoi Tsoumani, Giulia De Angelis, Thomas Caiffa, Matthias Schmitt, Gianfranco Sinagra, Chris Miller

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The international journal of cardiovascular imaging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Gaetano NuciforaCardiac Imaging Unit, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Trust Southmoor Rd, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK. gaetano.nucifora@mft.nhs.uk.
Daniele MuserCardiac Electrophysiology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, 20090, Italy.
Joshua BradleyInstitute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Zoi TsoumaniRoyal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Giulia De AngelisCardiothoracic Department, Santa Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.
Thomas CaiffaInstitute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.
Matthias SchmittInstitute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Gianfranco SinagraCardiovascular Department, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata, Trieste, Italy.
Chris MillerInstitute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) shows significant heterogeneity in clinical outcomes, challenging traditional risk stratification methods. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging offers detailed insights into myocardial structure and function, yet integrating this multidimensional data remains complex. Aim of the current study was to assess whether unsupervised machine learning could help identify distinct phenotypic subgroups and enhance prognostic accuracy. This study included 319 clinically stable ICM patients. CMR-derived variables, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), ventricular volumes, and myocardial scar burden, were analysed using KAMILA clustering algorithm. The optimal number of clusters was determined through silhouette analysis, within-cluster sum of squares, and gap statistics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) visualized the clustering results, and prognostic value was assessed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values were used to evaluate feature importance. Two distinct phenotypic clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 219) demonstrated better cardiac function, with higher LVEF, smaller ventricular volumes, and lower scar burden. Cluster 2 (n = 100) indicated advanced disease, with lower LVEF, larger volumes, higher scar burden, and greater midwall fibrosis. PCA confirmed clear separation between clusters, explaining 62.6% of the variance. After a median follow-up of 13 months, the composite endpoint was observed in 37 (12%) patients. Patients in Cluster 2 had a significantly higher risk of experiencing the composite outcome (HR = 3.96, p < 0.001). SHAP analysis identified ischaemic scar burden, sphericity index, and midwall fibrosis as key predictors of outcomes. Unsupervised clustering of CMR-derived variables identified distinct ICM phenotypes with important prognostic implications. This method improves risk stratification and could help tailor personalised treatment plans, highlighting the potential of machine learning in understanding ICM heterogeneity.

Indexed as

CardiomyopathiesImage Interpretation, Computer-AssistedMagnetic Resonance Imaging, CineMyocardial IschemiaMyocardiumUnsupervised Machine LearningAgedCluster AnalysisFemaleFibrosisHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhenotypePredictive Value of TestsPrognosisArtificial intelligenceCardiac magnetic resonanceIschemic cardiomyopathyMachine learningPrognosisUnsupervised cluster analysis

Identifiers

PMID41129087
PMCPMC12909309

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.