Utilization of Machine A Learning Algorithm in the Prediction of Rehospitalization During One-Year Post-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Study design: Retrospective cohort study Objective: The primary aim was to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict rehospitalization during the first year of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and to identify top predictors using data obtained during initial rehabilitation. The secondary aim was to predict prolonged hospital stay among the rehospitalized group. Setting: Eighteen SCI Model Systems centers throughout the United States. Methods: Data were retrieved from the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Database. The participants were divided into 2 groups based on rehospitalization during first year of injury. Those who experienced rehospitalization during first year were further grouped into prolonged stay (> 75th quartile of total length of stay) or non-prolonged stay. Variables considered in models included socio-demographic factors, clinical characteristics, and comorbidities. Results: The best performing classification models were Random Forest for predicting rehospitalization and Adaptive Boosting for prolonged stay. The most important predictors in both models were Functional Independence Measure (FIM) motor score, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scores, age, days from injury to rehabilitation admission and body mass index. Additionally, for prolonged stays, pressure injury as a reason of rehospitalization was top predictor. Conclusion: The crucial role of factors such as FIM and ASIA scores emerge as pivotal predictors of both rehospitalizations and prolonged rehospitalizations, might guide clinicians in risk assessment. Furthermore, identification of pressure injury as primary predictor for prolonged stays signifies a targeted focus on preventive measures for pressure injury-related rehospitalizations, offering a specific strategy to enhance patient care and outcomes.