Machine Learning Projects for Healthcare

Prediction of Chronic Kidney Disease using Machine Learning

Kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist . They are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Every day, the kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine. The key function of the kidneys is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body through the urine.

The production of urine involves highly complex steps of excretion and re-absorption. This process is necessary to maintain a stable balance of body chemicals. The critical regulation of the body 's salt, potassium and acid content is performed by the kidneys and produce hormones that affect the function of other organs. For example, a hormone produced by the kidneys stimulates red blood cell production, regulate blood pressure and control calcium metabolism etc. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major issue worldwide which is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time, 14% of the world population suffer from CKD. Over 2 million people worldwide currently receive treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive, yet this number may only represent 10% of people who need treatment to live. Chronic kidney disease causes more deaths than breast cancer or prostate cancer . The stages of CKD are mainly based on the measured or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) which is based on creatinine level , gender, race and age. There are five stages of kidney functionality.

Chronic kidney disease, also called chronic kidney failure, describes the gradual loss of kidney function. Your kidneys filter wastes and excess fluids from your blood, which are then excreted in your urine. When chronic kidney disease reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes can build up in your body.

In the early stages of chronic kidney disease, you may have few signs or symptoms. Chronic kidney disease may not become apparent until your kidney function is significantly impaired.

Treatment for chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression of the kidney damage, usually by controlling the underlying cause. Chronic kidney disease can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or a kidney transplant.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease develop over time if kidney damage progresses slowly. Signs and symptoms of kidney disease may include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• Fatigue and weakness

• Sleep problems

• Changes in how much you urinate

• Decreased mental sharpness

• Muscle twitches and cramps

• Swelling of feet and ankles

• Persistent itching

• Chest pain, if fluid builds up around the lining of the heart

• Shortness of breath, if fluid builds up in the lungs

• High blood pressure (hypertension) that's difficult to control

Signs and symptoms of kidney disease are often nonspecific, meaning they can also be caused by other illnesses. Because your kidneys are highly adaptable and able to compensate for lost function, signs and symptoms may not appear until irreversible damage has occurred.

Causes

Chronic kidney disease occurs when a disease or condition impairs kidney function, causing kidney damage to worsen over several months or years.

Diseases and conditions that cause chronic kidney disease include:

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes

• High blood pressure

• Glomerulonephritis (gloe-mer-u-low-nuh-FRY-tis), an inflammation of the kidney's filtering units (glomeruli)

• Interstitial nephritis (in-tur-STISH-ul nuh-FRY-tis), an inflammation of the kidney's tubules and surrounding structures

• Polycystic kidney disease

• Prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract, from conditions such as enlarged prostate, kidney stones and some cancers

• Vesicoureteral (ves-ih-koe-yoo-REE-tur-ul) reflux, a condition that causes urine to back up into your kidneys

• Recurrent kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis (pie-uh-low-nuh-FRY-tis)

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of chronic kidney disease include:

• Diabetes

• High blood pressure

• Heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Being African-American, Native American or Asian-American

• Family history of kidney disease

• Abnormal kidney structure

• Older age

Prevention - To reduce your risk of developing kidney disease:

• Follow instructions on over-the-counter medications. When using non-prescription pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), follow the instructions on the package. Taking too many pain relievers could lead to kidney damage and generally should be avoided if you have kidney disease. Ask your doctor whether these drugs are safe for you.

• Maintain a healthy weight. If you're at a healthy weight, work to maintain it by being physically active most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, talk with your doctor about strategies for healthy weight loss. Often this involves increasing daily physical activity and reducing calories.

• Don't smoke. Cigarette smoking can damage your kidneys and make existing kidney damage worse. If you're a smoker, talk to your doctor about strategies for quitting smoking. Support groups, counseling and medications can all help you to stop.

• Manage your medical conditions with your doctor's help. If you have diseases or conditions that increase your risk of kidney disease, work with your doctor to control them. Ask your doctor about tests to look for signs of kidney damage.

Liver Disease Prediction by using Pycaret – Machine Learning Project

Chronic Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a progressive deterioration of liver functions for more than six months, which includes synthesis of clotting factors, other proteins, detoxification of harmful products of metabolism, and excretion of bile. CLD is a continuous process of inflammation, destruction, and regeneration of liver parenchyma, which leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis.

The spectrum of etiologies is broad for chronic liver disease, which includes toxins, alcohol abuse for a prolonged time, infection, autoimmune diseases, genetic and metabolic disorders.

Cirrhosis is a final stage of chronic liver disease that results in disruption of liver architecture, the formation of widespread nodules, vascular reorganization, neo-angiogenesis, and deposition of an extracellular matrix.

The underlying mechanism of fibrosis and cirrhosis at a cellular level is the recruitment of stellate cells and fibroblasts, resulting in fibrosis, while parenchymal regeneration relies on hepatic stem cells.

Chronic liver disease is an extremely common clinical condition, and the focus is done on the common etiologies, clinical manifestations, and management.

What is liver disease?

Liver disease is any disturbance of liver function that causes illness. The liver is responsible for many critical functions within the body and should it become diseased or injured, the loss of those functions can cause significant damage to the body. Liver disease is also referred to as hepatic disease.

Liver disease is a broad term that covers all the potential problems that cause the liver to fail to perform its designated functions. Usually, more than 75% or three quarters of liver tissue needs to be affected before a decrease in function occurs.

The liver is the largest solid organ in the body; and is also considered a gland because among its many functions, it makes and secretes bile. The liver is located in the upper right portion of the abdomen protected by the rib cage. It has two main lobes that are made up of tiny lobules. The liver cells have two different sources of blood supply. The hepatic artery supplies oxygen rich blood that is pumped from the heart, while the portal vein supplies nutrients from the intestine and the spleen.

Normally, veins return blood from the body to the heart, but the portal vein allows nutrients and chemicals from the digestive tract to enter the liver for processing and filtering prior to entering the general circulation. The portal vein also efficiently delivers the chemicals and proteins that liver cells need to produce the proteins, cholesterol, and glycogen required for normal body activities.

Chronic Liver Disease Symptoms & Signs

Signs and symptoms associated with liver disease vary and are dependent upon the exact type of liver disease that is present. Examples of signs and symptoms of liver disease include

• jaundice,

• abdominal pain and swelling,

• itchy skin,

• dark urine color,

• nausea,

• vomiting,

• chronic fatigue,

• pale stool color,

• bloody stool,

• tar-colored stool,

• swelling in the ankles and legs,

• loss of appetite, and

• easy bruising.

What is the function of the liver?

As part of its function, the liver makes bile, a fluid that contains among other substances, water, chemicals, and bile acids (made from stored cholesterol in the liver). Bile is stored in the gallbladder and when food enters the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), bile is secreted into the duodenum, to aid in the digestion of food.

The liver is the only organ in the body that can easily replace damaged cells, but if enough cells are lost, the liver may not be able to meet the needs of the body.

The liver can be considered a factory, and among its many functions include:

• Production of bile that is required in the digestion of food, in particular, fats

• Storing of the extra glucose or sugar as glycogen, and then converting it back into glucose when the body needs it for energy

• Production of blood clotting factors

• Production of amino acids (the building blocks for making proteins), including those used to help fight infection

• The processing and storage of iron necessary for red blood cell production

• The manufacture of cholesterol and other chemicals required for fat transport

• The conversion of waste products of body metabolism into urea that is excreted in the urine

When should you call your doctor for Chronic liver disease?

Often, the onset of liver disease is gradual and there is no specific symptom that brings the affected individual to seek medical care. Fatigue, weakness, and weight loss that cannot be explained should prompt a visit for medical evaluation. Jaundice or yellow skin is never normal and should prompt an evaluation by a health care professional. Persistent fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain should also prompt medical evaluation as soon as possible.

Acetaminophen or Tylenol overdose, whether accidental or intentional, can cause acute liver failure. Emergent evaluation and treatment are required. Antidotes to protect the liver can be provided, but are effective only when used within a few hours. Without this intervention, acetaminophen overdose can lead to liver failure. Symptoms only occur after potential liver damage has occurred.

Other causes of Chronic liver disease

Since the liver is responsible for the functions that affect so many other organs in the body, liver disease and failure may cause complications. Examples include:

Hepatic encephalopathy: Increased ammonia levels due to the liver's inability to process and metabolize proteins in the diet can cause confusion, lethargy, and coma.

Abnormal bleeding: The liver is responsible for manufacturing blood clotting factors. Decreased liver function can cause an increased risk of bleeding in the body.

Protein synthesis or manufacture: proteins made in the liver are the building blocks for body function. Lack of protein affects many bodily functions

Is it possible to prevent Chronic liver disease?

• Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of liver disease in North America. Consuming alcohol in moderation may help minimize the risk of alcohol-related liver disease.

• The risk of contracting Hepatitis B and C can be decreased by minimizing the risk of exposure to another person's bodily fluids.

• Vaccination is available for Hepatitis A and B.

• Screening for Hepatitis C is recommended in some populations.

• Fatty liver disease is a preventable illness with the promotion of a healthy lifestyle including a well-balanced diet, weight control, avoiding excess alcohol consumption, and routine exercise program. These lifestyle modifications do not guarantee success in disease prevention, as some people will develop the fatty liver disease even with maximized lifestyle practices.