Machine learning-based analysis of risk factors for chronic total occlusion in an Asian population

OBJECTIVES: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) is a form of coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring percutaneous coronary intervention. There has been minimal research regarding CTO-specific risk factors and predictive models. We developed machine learning predictive models based on clinical characteristics to identify patients with CTO before coronary angiography. METHODS: Data from 1473 patients with CAD, including 317 patients with and 1156 patients without CTO, were retrospectively analyzed. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) models were used to identify CTO-specific risk factors and predict CTO development. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for model validation. RESULTS: For CTO prediction, the PLS-DA model included 10 variables; the ROC value was 0.706. The RF model included 42 variables; the ROC value was 0.702. The SVM model included 20 variables; the ROC value was 0.696. DeLong’s test showed no difference among the three models. Four variables were present in all models: sex, neutrophil percentage, creatinine, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). CONCLUSIONS: Validation of machine learning prediction models for CTO revealed that the PLS-DA model had the best prediction performance. Sex, neutrophil percentage, creatinine, and BNP may be important risk factors for CTO development.