Findings from a new study show that the majority of patients in the U.S. are not offered a heart ultrasound to screen for cardiac issues, and don’t have convenient access to screening.
The study also demonstrated a gap in awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S.
The survey was commissioned by DESKi, the developer of the cardiac software HeartFocus, and conducted by Researchscape between October and November 2025 through an online survey of 2,091 adults in the U.S. According to DESKi, the sample was nationally representative across age, gender, race/ethnicity, and geographic region.
Of patients who have had a cardiac ultrasound, only 28% were offered it as a screening measure, while 30% said that advanced heart screening was readily accessible near them.
Furthermore, fewer than half of respondents (49%) correctly identify heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S.; only 16% named heart disease first when asked to think of a “serious illness” (61% of respondents named cancer first).
While access to heart screening is limited, 94% supported heart ultrasound scans as part of a routine physical, and 90% said they would be open to a heart scan even if they feel healthy, if it could detect silent conditions. Regarding access, 92% said they would support their primary care providers offering same-day heart scans; 78% said they support access in nonhospital settings such as retail and walk-in clinics.
The study also probed respondents’ attitudes toward AI in heart imaging: 75% said that they want their primary care provider or nurse to use AI tools to assess heart health more quickly and accurately; 79% of people say the use of AI in heart scans would “increase or maintain” their trust in their healthcare provider.
More information about the study, dubbed “The Heart of the Matter,” can be obtained here.
