Applying Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Endometriosis Onset

Abstract

Endometriosis is a commonly occurring progressive gynecological disorder, in which tissues similar to the lining of the uterus grow on other parts of the female body, including ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bowel. It is one of the primary causes of pelvic discomfort and fertility challenges in women. The actual cause of the endometriosis is still undetermined. As a result, the objective of the chapter is to identify the drivers of endometriosis’ diagnoses via leveraging selected advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms. The primary risks of infertility and other health complications can be minimized to a greater extent if a likelihood of endometriosis could be predicted well in advance. Logistic regression (LR) and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) algorithms leveraged 36 months of medical history data to demonstrate the feasibility. Several direct and indirect features were identified as important to an accurate prediction of the condition onset, including selected diagnosis and procedure codes. Creating analytical tools based on the model results that could be integrated into the Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems and easily accessed by healthcare providers might aid the objective of improving the diagnostic processes and result in a timely and precise diagnosis, ultimately increasing patient care and quality of life.