Objective: The primary aim of this study is to utilize a neural network model to predict adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (GDM).
Design: Our model, based on XGBoost, was implemented using Python 3.6 with the Keras framework built on TensorFlow by Google. We sourced data from medical records of GDM-diagnosed individuals who delivered at our tertiary medical center between 2012 and 2016. The model included simple pregnancy parameters, maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, gravity, results of oral glucose tests, treatment modality, and glycemic control. The composite neonatal adverse outcomes defined as one of the following: large or small for gestational age, shoulder dystocia, fetal umbilical pH less than 7.2, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), hyperbilirubinemia, or polycythemia. For the machine training phase, 70% of the cohort was randomly chosen. Each sample in this set consisted of baseline parameters and the composite outcome. The remaining samples were then employed to assess the accuracy of our model.
Results: The study encompassed a total of 452 participants. The composite adverse outcome occurred in 29% of cases. Our model exhibited prediction accuracies of 82% at the time of GDM diagnosis and 91% at delivery. The factors most contributing to the prediction model were maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, and the results of the single 3-h 100 g oral glucose tolerance test.
Conclusion: Our advanced neural network algorithm has significant potential in predicting adverse neonatal outcomes in GDM-diagnosed individuals.
Keywords: Machine learning; artificial intelligence; gestational diabetes.