HCA Healthcare UK partners with VentriJect to introduce VO2 max testing

HCA Healthcare UK has partnered with Danish medical technology company VentriJect to introduce a new cardiorespiratory fitness test across its reAssure health screening programme.

The partnership will see HCA integrate VentriJect’s Seismofit device into a number of its doctor-led health screenings, enabling patients to receive an estimated VO2 max score in under three minutes without undertaking physical exercise.

VO2 max measures the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use during exercise and is an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular health.

Seismofit uses seismocardiography to record micro-vibrations generated by the heart. The data is transmitted to a secure server and analysed using an AI algorithm to produce an estimated VO2 max score, which is delivered through an app.

Unlike conventional exercise-based testing, the device can be used while patients are at rest, potentially widening access to cardiorespiratory fitness assessments for people unable to undertake strenuous exercise.

HCA’s reAssure programme offers doctor-led health assessments lasting between 45 and 135 minutes, incorporating diagnostic tests covering areas including cardiovascular health, cancer risk and genetics. Patients receive personalised reports and recommendations based on their results.

Dr Niaz Khan, chief clinical officer at HCA Healthcare UK Primary Care, said: ‘By introducing VentriJect’s Seismofit technology to our premier reAssure screenings, we are removing those physical barriers. We can now offer our patients highly accurate, effortless fitness insights in just minutes, empowering our clinical teams to deliver even more precise, proactive, and personalised preventative care.’

VentriJect chief executive Mikkel Kristiansen said the agreement represented an important step in the company’s expansion into the UK market.

Seismofit is already in use across Europe, but the agreement with HCA marks its first widespread rollout through healthcare centres in the UK and establishes HCA as VentriJect’s flagship UK healthcare account.