Comparative study of imputation strategies to improve the sarcopenia prediction task.

Objective: Sarcopenia, a condition characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, poses significant challenges in research due to missing data. Incomplete datasets undermine the accuracy and reliability of studies, necessitating effective imputation techniques. This study conducts a comparative analysis of three advanced methods-multiple imputation by chained equations (MICE), support vector regression, and K-nearest neighbors (KNN)-to address data completeness issues in sarcopenia research. Methods: Following imputation, we utilized machine learning models, including logistic regression, gradient boosting, support vector machine, and random forest, to classify sarcopenia. The methodology encompassed rigorous data preprocessing, normalization, and the synthetic minority oversampling technique to address class imbalance and ensure unbiased model performance. Results: The results revealed substantial variations in model accuracy based on the imputation method employed. The gradient boosting model consistently exhibited superior performance across all imputation strategies, demonstrating its robustness with imputed datasets. Additionally, KNN and MICE emerged as effective imputation techniques, preserving the original data distribution and enabling more accurate classification outcomes. Conclusion: This study underscores the pivotal role of imputation methods in maintaining data integrity and enhancing predictive accuracy in sarcopenia research. The gradient boosting model's reliability across all strategies highlights its potential as a robust classifier, while the suitability of KNN and MICE for preserving data distribution supports their application in similar research contexts. These findings contribute to more reliable and valid insights in sarcopenia studies, ultimately supporting improved clinical outcomes.