# Assessing Africa’s position in the development of AI-enabled ECG devices

## TL;DR

This paper examines how Africa is involved in developing AI-powered ECG devices, finding a significant lack of African research contributions despite global growth in the field.

## Contribution

The study reveals the under-representation of African researchers in AI-enhanced ECG device research and highlights the need for inclusive global collaboration.

## Key findings

- There has been a significant increase in AI-ECG device publications, especially during the pandemic.
- African researchers are notably under-represented in this field due to infrastructure and financial limitations.
- The study emphasizes the need for inclusive practices to ensure global diversity in health technology research.

## Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electrocardiographic (ECG) devices has become a pivotal area of research, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. These technologies are essential for enhancing cardiac diagnosis and monitoring.

This study assesses current trends, key contributors, and collaborative networks in the field of AI-enhanced ECG devices. We utilized a comprehensive analysis, using the Biblioshiny library from Bibliometrix for data exploration of data extracted from the Scopus database and VOSViewer for creating and visualizing maps. These tools were played an important role in conducting an in-depth analysis of the relationships and developments within the field.

The analysis shows a significant increase in publications related to AI-enhanced ECG devices, with a marked surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the growing interest and technological advancements, the study exposes a notable disparity in the geographical distribution of research contributions, highlighting substantial under-representation of African researchers. This gap is attributed to infrastructural, financial constraints, and limited collaborative networks within the continent.

The rapid evolution and increasing importance of AI in ECG devices underscore the need for more inclusive research practices. There is a critical need to integrate and promote contributions from under-represented regions, particularly Africa, to ensure a globally diverse perspective in tackling health challenges. This study calls for enhanced participation and support for African researchers to bridge the existing research gap and foster global health equity.