Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database

BackgroundSepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) is prevalent among elderly patients in the ICU and significantly affects patient prognosis. Due to the symptom similarity with other neurological disorders and the absence of specific biomarkers, early clinical diagnosis remains challenging. This stud...

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Main Authors: Yupeng Han, Xiyuan Xie, Jiapeng Qiu, Yijie Tang, Zhiwei Song, Wangyu Li, Xiaodan Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1545979/full
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author Yupeng Han
Xiyuan Xie
Jiapeng Qiu
Yijie Tang
Zhiwei Song
Wangyu Li
Xiaodan Wu
Xiaodan Wu
author_facet Yupeng Han
Xiyuan Xie
Jiapeng Qiu
Yijie Tang
Zhiwei Song
Wangyu Li
Xiaodan Wu
Xiaodan Wu
author_sort Yupeng Han
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundSepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) is prevalent among elderly patients in the ICU and significantly affects patient prognosis. Due to the symptom similarity with other neurological disorders and the absence of specific biomarkers, early clinical diagnosis remains challenging. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for SAE in elderly ICU patients.MethodsThe data of elderly sepsis patients were extracted from the MIMIC IV database (version 3.1) and divided into training and test sets in a 7:3 ratio. Feature variables were selected using the LASSO-Boruta combined algorithm, and five machine learning (ML) models, including Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Categorical Boosting (CatBoost),Light Gradient Boosting Machine(LGBM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and Support Vector Machines (SVM), were subsequently developed using these variables. A comprehensive set of performance metrics was used to assess the predictive accuracy, calibration, and clinical applicability of these models. For the machine learning model with the best performance, we employed the SHapley Additive Explanations(SHAP) method to visualize the model.ResultsBased on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 3,156 elderly sepsis patients were enrolled in the study, with an SAE incidence rate of 48.7%. The mortality rate of elderly sepsis patients who developed SAE was significantly higher than that of patients in the non-SAE group (28.78% vs. 12.59%, P < 0.001). A total of 18 feature variables were selected for the construction of the ML model using the LASSO-Boruta combined algorithm. Compared to the other four models and traditional scoring systems, the XGBoost model demonstrated the best overall predictive performance, with Area Under the Curve(AUC)=0.898, accuracy=0.830, recall=0.819, F1-Score=0.820, specificity=0.840, and Precision=0.821. Furthermore, the results from the Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) and calibration curves demonstrated that the XGBoost model has significant clinical value and stable predictive performance. The ten-fold cross-validation method further confirmed the robustness and generalizability of the model. In addition, we simplified the model based on the SHAP feature importance ranking, and the results indicated that the simplified XGBoost model retains excellent predictive ability (AUC=0.858).ConclusionsThe XGBoost model effectively predicts SAE in elderly ICU patients and may serve as a reliable tool for clinicians to identify high-risk patients.
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spelling doaj-art-0f472f19045a49f887b7944191ea7b552025-08-20T02:17:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882025-04-011510.3389/fcimb.2025.15459791545979Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV databaseYupeng Han0Xiyuan Xie1Jiapeng Qiu2Yijie Tang3Zhiwei Song4Wangyu Li5Xiaodan Wu6Xiaodan Wu7Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Pain Management, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaDepartment of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaFujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical care Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaBackgroundSepsis associated encephalopathy (SAE) is prevalent among elderly patients in the ICU and significantly affects patient prognosis. Due to the symptom similarity with other neurological disorders and the absence of specific biomarkers, early clinical diagnosis remains challenging. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for SAE in elderly ICU patients.MethodsThe data of elderly sepsis patients were extracted from the MIMIC IV database (version 3.1) and divided into training and test sets in a 7:3 ratio. Feature variables were selected using the LASSO-Boruta combined algorithm, and five machine learning (ML) models, including Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Categorical Boosting (CatBoost),Light Gradient Boosting Machine(LGBM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), and Support Vector Machines (SVM), were subsequently developed using these variables. A comprehensive set of performance metrics was used to assess the predictive accuracy, calibration, and clinical applicability of these models. For the machine learning model with the best performance, we employed the SHapley Additive Explanations(SHAP) method to visualize the model.ResultsBased on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 3,156 elderly sepsis patients were enrolled in the study, with an SAE incidence rate of 48.7%. The mortality rate of elderly sepsis patients who developed SAE was significantly higher than that of patients in the non-SAE group (28.78% vs. 12.59%, P < 0.001). A total of 18 feature variables were selected for the construction of the ML model using the LASSO-Boruta combined algorithm. Compared to the other four models and traditional scoring systems, the XGBoost model demonstrated the best overall predictive performance, with Area Under the Curve(AUC)=0.898, accuracy=0.830, recall=0.819, F1-Score=0.820, specificity=0.840, and Precision=0.821. Furthermore, the results from the Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) and calibration curves demonstrated that the XGBoost model has significant clinical value and stable predictive performance. The ten-fold cross-validation method further confirmed the robustness and generalizability of the model. In addition, we simplified the model based on the SHAP feature importance ranking, and the results indicated that the simplified XGBoost model retains excellent predictive ability (AUC=0.858).ConclusionsThe XGBoost model effectively predicts SAE in elderly ICU patients and may serve as a reliable tool for clinicians to identify high-risk patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1545979/fullmachine learningearly predictionsepsis associated encephalopathyelderlyMIMIC-IV
spellingShingle Yupeng Han
Xiyuan Xie
Jiapeng Qiu
Yijie Tang
Zhiwei Song
Wangyu Li
Xiaodan Wu
Xiaodan Wu
Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
machine learning
early prediction
sepsis associated encephalopathy
elderly
MIMIC-IV
title Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database
title_full Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database
title_fullStr Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database
title_full_unstemmed Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database
title_short Early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly ICU patients using machine learning models: a retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database
title_sort early prediction of sepsis associated encephalopathy in elderly icu patients using machine learning models a retrospective study based on the mimic iv database
topic machine learning
early prediction
sepsis associated encephalopathy
elderly
MIMIC-IV
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1545979/full
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