Radial basis function neural network approach for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease based on the standard electrocardiogram exercise test.

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is the evaluation of a radial basis function neural network as a tool for computer aided coronary artery disease diagnosis based on the results of the traditional ECG exercise test. The research was performed using 776 data records from an exercise test (297 records from healthy patients and 479 from ill patients) confirmed by coronary arteriography results. Each record described the state of the patient, provided input data for the neural network, included the level and slope of an ST segment of a 12-lead ECG signal made at rest and after effort, heart rate, blood pressure, load during the test, and occurrence of coronary pain, coronary arteriography, correct output pattern for the neural network, and verified the existence (or not) of more than 50% stenosis of the particular coronary vessels. Radial basis function neural networks for coronary artery disease diagnosis were optimised by choosing the type of radial function, the method of training (setting the number of centres and their dimensions), and regularisation. The best network correctly recognised over 97% of cases from a 400-element test set, diagnosing not only the patients' condition (simple 'healthy/unhealthy' diagnosis), but also pointing out individual unhealthy/stenosed vessels.