Fuzzy logic use in classification of the severity of diabetic retinopathy

PurposeEmploy fuzzy logic to auxiliary in identification and diagnosis the gravity of diabetic retinopathy (DR). MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed, being assessed 100 diabetes mellitus patients with DR. The following ultrasound findings were measured employing a semi-quantitative punctuation method: vitreous hemorrhage, posterior vitreous detachment, epiretinal fibrosis, retinal detachment. The fundus photography (FP) aspects evaluated for diagnosis of DR were at least four or more microaneurysms with or without hard or soft exudates, and neovascularization, graded using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Scale. With the combination between ultrasound punctuation and FP aspects through fuzzy logic, a classification for DR has been built. ResultsMicroaneurysms were the findings which presented the better interaction with the DR severity on ultrasound, while the hard exudates showed the minors estimation errors when compared to soft exudates. A classification for DR was suggested based on the 95% confidence interval of number of microaneurysms: mild group (< 24.6); moderately mild (24.6 - 48.0); moderate (48.1 - 64.5); moderately severe (64.6 - 77.0); severe (77.1 - 92.7); and very severe (> 92.7). ConclusionBy the fuzzy logic, a DR classification was constructed supported on number of microaneurysms measurement with a simple practical application.