Prediction of caregiver burden in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a machine learning approach using random forests applied to a cohort study.

Journal: BMJ open
PMID: 32114464

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disease that is characterised by the rapid degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons and has a fatal trajectory 3-4 years from symptom onset. Due to the nature of the condition patients with ALS require the assistance of informal caregivers whose task is demanding and can lead to high feelings of burden. This study aims to predict caregiver burden and identify related features using machine learning techniques.

Authors

  • Anna Markella Antoniadi
    UCD School of Computer Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Miriam Galvin
    Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Dublin Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Mark Heverin
    Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Dublin Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Orla Hardiman
    Academic Unit of Neurology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
  • Catherine Mooney
    School of Computer Science, UCD Institute for Discovery, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland.

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