Logistic regression model using Scheimpflug-Placido cornea topographer parameters to diagnose keratoconus

Purpose: diagnose keratoconus by establishing an effective logistic regression model from the data obtained with a Scheimpflug-Placido cornea topographer. Methods: topographical parameters of 125 eyes of 70 patients diagnosed with keratoconus by clinical or topographical findings were compared with 120 eyes of 63 patients who were defined as keratorefractive surgery candidates. The receiver operating character (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic ability of the topographic parameters. The data set of parameters with an AUROC (area under the ROC curve) value greater than 0.9 was analyzed with logistic regression analysis (LRA) to determine the most predictive model that could diagnose keratoconus. A logit formula of the model was built, and the logit values of every eye in the study were calculated according to this formula. Then, an ROC analysis of the logit values was done. Results: Baiocchi Calossi Versaci front index (BCVf) had the highest AUROC value (0.976) in the study. The LRA model, which had the highest prediction ability, had 97.5% accuracy, 96.8% sensitivity, and 99.2% specificity. The most significant parameters were found to be BCVf (p=0.001), BCVb (Baiocchi Calossi Versaci back) (p=0.002), posterior rf (apical radius of the flattest meridian of the aspherotoric surface in 4.5 mm diameter of the cornea) (p=0.005), central corneal thickness (p=0.072), and minimum corneal thickness (p=0.494). Conclusions: the LRA model can distinguish keratoconus corneas from normal ones with high accuracy without the need for complex computer algorithms.
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