Development and multi-center validation of machine learning model for early detection of fungal keratitis

BACKGROUND: Fungal keratitis (FK) is a leading cause of corneal blindness in developing countries due to poor clinical recognition and laboratory identification. Here, we aimed to identify the distinct clinical signature of FK and develop a diagnostic model to differentiate FK from other types of infectious keratitis. METHODS: We reviewed the electronic health records (EHRs) of all patients with suspected infectious keratitis in Beijing Tongren Hospital from January 2011 to December 2021. Twelve clinical signs of slit-lamp images were assessed by Lasso regression analysis and collinear variables were excluded. Three models based on binary logistic regression, random forest classification, and decision tree classification were trained for FK diagnosis and employed for internal validation. Independent external validation of the models was performed in a cohort of 420 patients from seven different ophthalmic centers to evaluate the accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity in real world. FINDINGS: Three diagnostic models of FK based on binary logistic regression, random forest classification, and decision tree classification were established and internal validation were achieved with the mean AUC of 0.916, 0.920, and 0.859, respectively. The models were well-calibrated by external validation using a prospective cohort including 210 FK and 210 non-FK patients from seven eye centers across China. The diagnostic model with the binary logistic regression algorithm classified the external validation dataset with a sensitivity of 0.907 (0.774, 1.000), specificity 0.899 (0.750, 1.000), accuracy 0.905 (0.805, 1.000), and AUC 0.903 (0.808, 0.998). INTERPRETATION: Our model enables rapid identification of FK, which will help ophthalmologists to establish a preliminary diagnosis and to improve the diagnostic accuracy in clinic. FUNDING: The Open Research Fund from the 10.13039/501100012166National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFC2301000) and the Open Research Fund from Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beijing Tongren Hospital, 10.13039/501100002358Beihang University & 10.13039/501100002799Capital Medical University (BHTR-KFJJ-202001) supported this study.