Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Abdominal Subcutaneous Fat Thickness During Pregnancy

Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2023 Nov;21(9):479-488. doi: 10.1089/met.2023.0043. Epub 2023 Sep 5.

Abstract

Objective: Current evidence regarding the safety of abdominal subcutaneous injections in pregnant women is limited. In this study, we developed a predictive model for abdominal skin-subcutaneous fat thickness (S-ScFT) by gestational periods (GP) in pregnant women. Methods: A total of 354 cases were measured for S-ScFT. Three machine learning algorithms, namely deep learning, random forest, and support vector machine, were used for S-ScFT predictive modeling and factor analysis for each abdominal site. Data analysis was performed using SPSS and RapidMiner softwares. Results: The deep learning algorithm best predicted the abdominal S-ScFT. The common important variables in all three algorithms for the prediction of abdominal S-ScFT were menarcheal age, prepregnancy weight, prepregnancy body mass index (categorized), large fetus for gestational age, and alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Predicting the safety of subcutaneous injections during pregnancy could be beneficial for managing gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women.

Keywords: abdomen; machine learning; pregnancy; subcutaneous fat; subcutaneous fat thickness.

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes, Gestational* / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Machine Learning
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Subcutaneous Fat / diagnostic imaging
  • Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal* / diagnostic imaging