A diagnostic support system based on interpretable machine learning and oscillometry for accurate diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction in silicosis

Silicosis, the most dangerous and common lung illness associated with breathing in mineral dust, is a significant health concern. Spirometry, the traditional method for evaluating pulmonary functions, requires high patient compliance. Respiratory Oscillometry and electrical models are being studied to evaluate the respiratory system. This study aims to harness the power of machine learning (ML) to enhance the accuracy and interpretability of oscillometric parameters in silicosis. The data was obtained from 109 volunteers (60 in the training and 49 in the validation groups). Some supervised ML algorithms were selected for tests: K-Nearest Neighbors, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, CatBoost (CAT), Explainable Boosting Machines (EBM), and a deep learning algorithm. Two synthetic data generation algorithms were also applied. Initially, this study revealed the most accurate oscillometric parameter: the resonant frequency (fr, AUC=0.86), indicating a moderate accuracy (0.70-0.90). Next, original oscillometric parameters were used as input in the selected algorithms. EBM (AUC=0.93) and HyperTab (AUC=0.95) demonstrated the best performance. When feature selection was applied, HyperTab (AUC=0.94), EBM (AUC=0.94), and Catboost (AUC=0.93) emerged as the most accurate results. Finally, external validation resulted in a high diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.96). Machine learning algorithms introduced enhanced accuracy in diagnosing respiratory changes associated with silicosis. The HyperTab and EBM achieved a high diagnostic accuracy range, and EBM explains the importance of the features and their interactions. This AI-assisted workflow has the potential to serve as a valuable decision support tool for clinicians, which can enhance their decision-making process, ultimately leading to improved accuracy and efficiency.