genderHeart: Assistance System after Cardiovascular Disease

Can our voice reveal something about our state of health? Researchers have found indications that certain characteristics of the voice are linked to cardiovascular disease. So-called voice biomarkers can be derived from such acoustic features. In the future, they could help detect health changes early and without invasive examinations. This is exactly where the genderHeart research project comes in. After a heart attack or another cardiovascular event, the risk of further cardiovascular disease is particularly high in the first year. At the same time, women often have a worse prognosis than men after such events. Gender-specific differences in symptoms, diagnosis and aftercare have so far not been sufficiently taken into account.

How does genderHeart work?

The project is developing an interactive assistance system for gender-specific aftercare following cardiovascular events. Patients regularly record short voice samples. An artificial intelligence analyses certain acoustic features and calculates an individual voice biomarker from them. Changes in the body can also affect the voice. For example, fluid retention can change the anatomy and function of the vocal folds. Such changes could provide indications of health risks. genderHeart therefore investigates whether gender-specific characteristics of the voice can help to better assess the individual risk of further cardiovascular events.

In addition to the voice samples, other health data such as blood pressure, LDL cholesterol and laboratory values are recorded. The AI brings this information together and helps to assess the individual risk and derive suitable aftercare recommendations.

Developed together for gender-sensitive care

The system is being developed with users in mind so that patients can easily integrate it into their everyday lives. At the same time, the technology is being examined in a clinical context for its effectiveness and practical usability. A particular focus is on women, who have so far often been underrepresented in cardiovascular studies and often have a worse prognosis after cardiovascular events. genderHeart therefore investigates specifically how gender-specific characteristics can be taken into account in risk detection.

Prospects for cardiological aftercare

The results are intended to help develop personalised and gender-sensitive aftercare programmes. In the future, the technology could be used both in clinical care and in telemedicine applications. genderHeart combines artificial intelligence, voice analysis and cardiological aftercare – with the aim of detecting risks earlier and making care for women and men more individual.

Project information

Consortium coordinator Heidelberg University - Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University - I. Department of Medicine - Cardiology, Haemostaseology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine, Heidelberg Prof. Dr. med. Anna Lena Hohneck

Partners Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, Mannheim ZANA Technologies GmbH, Berlin

Volume €1.4 million (84% funded by BMFTR)

Duration 11/2025 - 10/2028

Call for proposals Interactive Technologies for Gender-Specific Health (GeGe)