Development and validation of a machine learning based early warning scoring system for high altitude polycythemia

High-altitude polycythemia (HAPC) lacks a lifestyle-focused risk-stratification tool among lifelong high-altitude residents. Here we aimed to develop and validate a novel machine-learning predictive scoring system for HAPC using readily modifiable lifestyle variables in this population.

In a high altitude cohort (≥4,500 m, n = 1,089), 82 candidate variables were reduced to seven lifestyle predictors via LASSO, Logistic regression, XGBoost and random forest models were trained and compared (10 fold cross validation).

Logistic regression achieved the best balance (AUC 0.848, sensitivity 0.81, specificity 0.79). Low SpO₂ (< 83%), male sex, age ≥50 year, smoking, hypertension, higher body mass index (BMI) and lower tea consumption were independent predictors.

This score equips frontline health workers in extremely high-altitude, resource-scarce settings to rapidly pinpoint high-risk residents and initiate low-cost lifestyle interventions, thereby curbing the incidence of chronic altitude-related illnesses, easing local medical burdens, and improving overall quality of life for native high-altitude populations.

ChiCTR2100047945.