Comparative machine learning modeling of resting energy expenditure estimation in mechanically ventilated children

Chenyu Li1, Zhiyuan Zhu1, Shilin Wang1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease and Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Insights

Machine learning models accurately predict resting energy expenditure (REE) in children post-cardiac surgery, outperforming traditional methods. This aids in optimizing nutritional support for better recovery outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care medicine
  • Biomedical engineering
  • Nutritional science

Background:

  • Optimal nutrition is crucial for pediatric recovery after cardiac surgery.
  • Metabolic demands exhibit significant inter-individual variability.
  • Accurate assessment of resting energy expenditure (REE) is essential for tailored nutritional plans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and evaluate machine learning (ML) models for predicting postoperative REE in children undergoing cardiac surgery.
  • To identify key factors influencing REE in this patient population.
  • To compare the performance of ML models against conventional predictive equations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 278 children who underwent indirect calorimetry (IC) post-cardiac surgery.
  • Training nine ML algorithms to predict REE using clinical and demographic data.
  • Assessing model agreement with measured REE using Bland-Altman analysis and SHAP for interpretability.

Main Results:

  • ML models demonstrated competitive accuracy, with the best models achieving an R-squared of 0.64.
  • The root mean square error (RMSE) for ML models ranged from 226 to 281 kcal/d, comparable to conventional equations.
  • Key predictors of REE included weight, age, height, preoperative albumin, CK-MB, vasoactive inotropic score, CPB time, LVEDD Z-score, gender, and NT-proBNP.

Conclusions:

  • Developed ML models show promise in predicting REE in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.
  • Certain ML models outperformed traditional equations in estimating postoperative REE.
  • These findings support the use of ML for personalized nutritional management, improving metabolic response to surgical stress.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos