Comprehensive Summary
This study looked at how well different machine learning models could predict wound healing in people with diabetic foot ulcers. The researchers created a clear framework for how to properly use machine learning in complex medical problems. They used a dataset of 700 patients that included 199 clinical features such as age, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and wound size. After cleaning the data, they chose the most important variables using statistical tests like ANOVA and chi-square, along with advice from medical experts. They filled in missing information with an imputation method called MIDAS and balanced the dataset using adaptive synthetic sampling. Seven different models were tested, including logistic regression, support vector machine, random forest, XGBoost, and neural networks. The support vector had the highest performance, with an accuracy of 85% and a very high AUC score, showing strong predictive power. Random forest and XGBoost also performed well. The results showed that good data preparation and model calibration are key to making machine learning useful for real clinical decisions.
Outcomes and Implications
This study shows how machine learning can help doctors predict which diabetic foot ulcers are most likely to heal. By analyzing several patient characteristics at once, these models can identify people who need extra care or early treatment. The high accuracy of the top models suggests that machine learning can support doctors rather than replace them. It also highlights how important it is to handle missing or unbalanced data carefully to make results more reliable. Such predictive tools could help hospitals plan better and prevent serious outcomes like infections or amputations. In the future, this same approach could be applied to other long term diseases to improve patient care and outcomes.