The use of infrared thermography in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases: A systematic literature review

Objectives Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-contact, radiation-free imaging technique that measures skin temperature as an indirect marker of tissue perfusion, inflammation, and autonomic regulation. Advances in infrared camera technology and image-processing methods, including artificial intelligence–based analysis, have renewed interest in the potential clinical role of IRT in cardiovascular medicine. This systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic and clinical utility of infrared thermography in adult patients with cardiovascular diseases, focusing on its performance in assessing impaired tissue perfusion and ischemia. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane CENTRAL, IEEE Xplore, and ACM Digital Library for studies published from January 1, 2016, to April 26, 2026, in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches of Embase and Web of Science Core Collection were attempted, but could not be performed because these databases were not accessible through the authors’ institutional subscriptions. No language restriction was applied. Studies investigating the use of IRT in adult patients with cardiovascular conditions were included, while pediatric, animal, phantom-based, protocol-only, case-report, and other ineligible study types were excluded. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were qualitatively synthesized. Results The reviewed studies explored the utility of IRT across a range of cardiovascular conditions, most commonly peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery stenosis, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Overall, infrared thermography demonstrated potential as an additional diagnostic or screening tool, particularly when combined with conventional diagnostics or artificial intelligence–based analysis. However, substantial heterogeneity was observed in study design, imaging protocols, outcome measures, and patient populations, limiting direct comparison across studies. Conclusion Infrared thermography may serve as a non-invasive and low-cost adjunct in the assessment of selected cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, current evidence is constrained by methodological variability, small sample sizes, and the lack of standardized acquisition and interpretation protocols. Further large-scale, well-designed prospective studies are required to define its diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility, and role within established cardiovascular diagnostic pathways.