Robust Method in Multiple Linear Regression Model on Diabetes Patients

Abstract

This paper is focusing on the application of robust method in multiple linear regression (MLR) model towards diabetes data. The objectives of this study are to identify the significant variables that affect diabetes by using MLR model and using MLR model with robust method, and to measure the performance of MLR model with/without robust method. Robust method is used in order to overcome the outlier problem of the data. There are three robust methods used in this study which are least quartile difference (LQD), median absolute deviation (MAD) and least-trimmed squares (LTS) estimator. The result shows that multiple linear regression with application of LTS estimator is the best model since it has the lowest value of mean square error (MSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). In conclusion, plasma glucose concentration in an oral glucose tolerance test is positively affected by body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, triceps skin fold thickness, diabetes pedigree function, age and yes/no for diabetes according to WHO criteria while negatively affected by the number of pregnancies. This finding can be used as a guideline for medical doctors as an early prevention of stage 2 of diabetes.