Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia

Abstract Background Early detection of cephalic dystocia is challenging, and current clinical assessment tools are limited. Machine learning offers unique advantages, enabling the generation of predictive models using various types of clinical data. Our model aims to integrate objective ultrasound d...

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Main Authors: Yumei Huang, Xuerong Ran, Xueyan Wang, Defang Wu, Zheng Yao, Jinguo Zhai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07972-8
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author Yumei Huang
Xuerong Ran
Xueyan Wang
Defang Wu
Zheng Yao
Jinguo Zhai
author_facet Yumei Huang
Xuerong Ran
Xueyan Wang
Defang Wu
Zheng Yao
Jinguo Zhai
author_sort Yumei Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Early detection of cephalic dystocia is challenging, and current clinical assessment tools are limited. Machine learning offers unique advantages, enabling the generation of predictive models using various types of clinical data. Our model aims to integrate objective ultrasound data with psychological and sociological characteristics and obstetric treatment data to predict the individual probability of cephalic dystocia in pregnant women. Methods We collected data from 302 pregnant women who underwent examinations and deliveries at Southern Medical University’s Nanfang Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. We utilized basic patient characteristics, foetal ultrasound parameters, maternal anthropometric data, maternal psychological measurements, and obstetric medical records to train and test the machine learning models. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to select predictive factors, followed by the development of logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest machine learning models. The precision, accuracy, recall, F1-score, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the performance of the models. Results Among the three machine learning models, the LASSO-based logistic regression model demonstrated the best predictive performance, with an AUC value of 0.914. We found that maternal ischial spine diameter, fetal head circumference-to-maternal height ratio, artificial rupture of membranes, childbirth self-efficacy, and other 11 variables were predictive factors for cephalic dystocia. Conclusions This study applied a LASSO-based logistic regression prediction model for cephalic dystocia. The model demonstrated good predictive performance and can assist in selecting the appropriate mode of delivery.
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spelling doaj-art-67803ca59fda4659a25ea2618c0febdb2025-08-24T11:56:23ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-08-0125111210.1186/s12884-025-07972-8Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystociaYumei Huang0Xuerong Ran1Xueyan Wang2Defang Wu3Zheng Yao4Jinguo Zhai5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care HospitalDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Midwifery, School of Nursing, Southern Medical UniversityAbstract Background Early detection of cephalic dystocia is challenging, and current clinical assessment tools are limited. Machine learning offers unique advantages, enabling the generation of predictive models using various types of clinical data. Our model aims to integrate objective ultrasound data with psychological and sociological characteristics and obstetric treatment data to predict the individual probability of cephalic dystocia in pregnant women. Methods We collected data from 302 pregnant women who underwent examinations and deliveries at Southern Medical University’s Nanfang Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. We utilized basic patient characteristics, foetal ultrasound parameters, maternal anthropometric data, maternal psychological measurements, and obstetric medical records to train and test the machine learning models. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to select predictive factors, followed by the development of logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest machine learning models. The precision, accuracy, recall, F1-score, and the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the performance of the models. Results Among the three machine learning models, the LASSO-based logistic regression model demonstrated the best predictive performance, with an AUC value of 0.914. We found that maternal ischial spine diameter, fetal head circumference-to-maternal height ratio, artificial rupture of membranes, childbirth self-efficacy, and other 11 variables were predictive factors for cephalic dystocia. Conclusions This study applied a LASSO-based logistic regression prediction model for cephalic dystocia. The model demonstrated good predictive performance and can assist in selecting the appropriate mode of delivery.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07972-8Machine learningCephalic dystociaRisk assessmentPrediction model
spellingShingle Yumei Huang
Xuerong Ran
Xueyan Wang
Defang Wu
Zheng Yao
Jinguo Zhai
Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Machine learning
Cephalic dystocia
Risk assessment
Prediction model
title Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia
title_full Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia
title_fullStr Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia
title_full_unstemmed Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia
title_short Development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia
title_sort development and validation of a machine learning model for prediction of cephalic dystocia
topic Machine learning
Cephalic dystocia
Risk assessment
Prediction model
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07972-8
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AT defangwu developmentandvalidationofamachinelearningmodelforpredictionofcephalicdystocia
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