Establishing and clinically validating a machine learning model for predicting unplanned reoperation risk in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer significantly impacts global health,with unplanned reoperations post-surgery being key determinants of patient outcomes.Existing predictive models for these reoperations lack precision in integrating complex clinical data.AIM To develop and validate a machine learning model for predicting unplanned reoperation risk in colorectal cancer patients.METHODS Data of patients treated for colorectal cancer(n=2044)at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Wenzhou Central Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected.Patients were divided into an experimental group(n=60)and a control group(n=1984)according to unplanned reoperation occurrence.Patients were also divided into a training group and a validation group(7:3 ratio).We used three different machine learning methods to screen characteristic variables.A nomogram was created based on multifactor logistic regression,and the model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve,calibration curve,Hosmer-Lemeshow test,and decision curve analysis.The risk scores of the two groups were calculated and compared to validate the model.RESULTS More patients in the experimental group were≥60 years old,male,and had a history of hypertension,laparotomy,and hypoproteinemia,compared to the control group.Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed the following as independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation(P<0.05):Prognostic Nutritional Index value,history of laparotomy,hypertension,or stroke,hypoproteinemia,age,tumor-node-metastasis staging,surgical time,gender,and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the model had good discrimination and clinical utility.CONCLUSION This study used a machine learning approach to build a model that accurately predicts the risk of postoperative unplanned reoperation in patients with colorectal cancer,which can improve treatment decisions and prognosis.