| Objective To construct the risk prediction model of contralateral inguinal hernia(MCIH) in children after unilateral inguinal hernia surgery based on machine learning method, and to verify the prediction efficiency. Methods The clinical data of 252 children undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia operation in Nanyang Central Hospital from January 2021 to April 2023 were collected. As a modeling group, patients were divided into the occurrence group(n=36) and non-occurrence group(n=216) according to whether MCIH occurred after operation. According to the ratio of 7:3 between the modeling group and the verification group, 108 additional children were selected as the verification group from May 2023 to June 2024. Machine learning algorithms of logistic regression, decision classification regression tree(CART) and backpropagation neural network(BPNN) were used to construct a prediction model for postoperative MCIH in children with unilateral inguinal hernia, and receiver operation(ROC) curve was used to compare the prediction value of the models constructed by the three methods for postoperative MCIH. Results Univariate and multivariate results showed that age, sex, low body mass infants, premature infants, family history of inguinal hernia, location of hernia sac and postoperative complications were independent influencing factors for postoperative MCIH(all P< 0.05). The accuracy of logistic regression, CART and BPNN models was 83.76%, 72.61% and 81.50%, respectively, the sensitivity was 88.90%, 88.90% and 83.30%, respectively, and the specificity was 82.90%, 69.90% and 81.20%, respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC) of logistic regression, CART and BPNN models was 0.918, 0.862 and 0.899, respectively(all P< 0.05). The AUC of the models constructed by the three machine learning algorithms were all> 0.800, and the prediction accuracy was good. The AUC and accuracy of logistic regression model were higher than those of CART and BPNN model, and it had the best effect in predicting MCIH after unilateral inguinal hernia in children. Conclusion The influencing factors of postoperative MCIH in children with unilateral inguinal hernia include age, gender, low body mass, family history of inguinal hernia, etc. The prediction model of postoperative MCIH in children with unilateral inguinal hernia based on machine learning algorithm has good prediction efficiency, and the logistic regression model has the best prediction efficiency with high prediction accuracy. |