A comparison of different feature extraction methods for diagnosis of valvular heart diseases using PCG signals

Exploring feature selection and classification methods for predicting heart disease

Machine learning has been used successfully to improve the accuracy of computer-aided diagnosis systems. This paper experimentally assesses the performance of models derived by machine learning techniques by using relevant features chosen by various feature-selection methods. Four commonly used heart disease datasets have been evaluated using principal component analysis, Chi squared testing, ReliefF and symmetrical uncertainty to create distinctive feature sets. Then, a variety of classification algorithms have been used to create models that are then compared to seek the optimal features combinations, to improve the correct prediction of heart conditions. We found the benefits of using feature selection vary depending on the machine learning technique used for the heart datasets we consider. However, the best model we created used a combination of Chi-squared feature selection with the BayesNet algorithm and achieved an accuracy of 85.00% on the considered datasets.

The electronic stethoscope

Most heart diseases are associated with and reflected by the sounds that the heart produces. Heart auscultation, defined as listening to the heart sound, has been a very important method for the early diagnosis of cardiac dysfunction. Traditional auscultation requires substantial clinical experience and good listening skills. The emergence of the electronic stethoscope has paved the way for a new field of computer-aided auscultation. This article provides an in-depth study of (1) the electronic stethoscope technology, and (2) the methodology for diagnosis of cardiac disorders based on computer-aided auscultation. The paper is based on a comprehensive review of (1) literature articles, (2) market (state-of-the-art) products, and (3) smartphone stethoscope apps. It covers in depth every key component of the computer-aided system with electronic stethoscope, from sensor design, front-end circuitry, denoising algorithm, heart sound segmentation, to the final machine learning techniques. Our intent is to provide an informative and illustrative presentation of the electronic stethoscope, which is valuable and beneficial to academics, researchers and engineers in the technical field, as well as to medical professionals to facilitate its use clinically. The paper provides the technological and medical basis for the development and commercialization of a real-time integrated heart sound detection, acquisition and quantification system.