Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries

Global targets to reduce salt intake have been proposed, but their monitoring is challenged by the lack of population-based data on salt consumption. We developed a machine learning (ML) model to predict salt consumption at the population level based on simple predictors and applied this model to na...

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Main Authors: Wilmer Cristobal Guzman-Vilca, Manuel Castillo-Cara, Rodrigo M Carrillo-Larco
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd 2022-01-01
Series:eLife
Subjects:
Online Access:https://elifesciences.org/articles/72930
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author Wilmer Cristobal Guzman-Vilca
Manuel Castillo-Cara
Rodrigo M Carrillo-Larco
author_facet Wilmer Cristobal Guzman-Vilca
Manuel Castillo-Cara
Rodrigo M Carrillo-Larco
author_sort Wilmer Cristobal Guzman-Vilca
collection DOAJ
description Global targets to reduce salt intake have been proposed, but their monitoring is challenged by the lack of population-based data on salt consumption. We developed a machine learning (ML) model to predict salt consumption at the population level based on simple predictors and applied this model to national surveys in 54 countries. We used 21 surveys with spot urine samples for the ML model derivation and validation; we developed a supervised ML regression model based on sex, age, weight, height, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We applied the ML model to 54 new surveys to quantify the mean salt consumption in the population. The pooled dataset in which we developed the ML model included 49,776 people. Overall, there were no substantial differences between the observed and ML-predicted mean salt intake (p<0.001). The pooled dataset where we applied the ML model included 166,677 people; the predicted mean salt consumption ranged from 6.8 g/day (95% CI: 6.8–6.8 g/day) in Eritrea to 10.0 g/day (95% CI: 9.9–10.0 g/day) in American Samoa. The countries with the highest predicted mean salt intake were in the Western Pacific. The lowest predicted intake was found in Africa. The country-specific predicted mean salt intake was within reasonable difference from the best available evidence. An ML model based on readily available predictors estimated daily salt consumption with good accuracy. This model could be used to predict mean salt consumption in the general population where urine samples are not available.
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spelling doaj.art-331c44a0c055438687a8ab1d3cbfbaf42022-12-22T04:28:58ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2022-01-011110.7554/eLife.72930Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countriesWilmer Cristobal Guzman-Vilca0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2194-8496Manuel Castillo-Cara1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2990-7090Rodrigo M Carrillo-Larco2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2090-1856School of Medicine Alberto Hurtado, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Sociedad Científica de Estudiantes de Medicina Cayetano Heredia (SOCEMCH), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, PeruUniversidad de Lima, Lima, PeruCRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United KingdomGlobal targets to reduce salt intake have been proposed, but their monitoring is challenged by the lack of population-based data on salt consumption. We developed a machine learning (ML) model to predict salt consumption at the population level based on simple predictors and applied this model to national surveys in 54 countries. We used 21 surveys with spot urine samples for the ML model derivation and validation; we developed a supervised ML regression model based on sex, age, weight, height, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. We applied the ML model to 54 new surveys to quantify the mean salt consumption in the population. The pooled dataset in which we developed the ML model included 49,776 people. Overall, there were no substantial differences between the observed and ML-predicted mean salt intake (p<0.001). The pooled dataset where we applied the ML model included 166,677 people; the predicted mean salt consumption ranged from 6.8 g/day (95% CI: 6.8–6.8 g/day) in Eritrea to 10.0 g/day (95% CI: 9.9–10.0 g/day) in American Samoa. The countries with the highest predicted mean salt intake were in the Western Pacific. The lowest predicted intake was found in Africa. The country-specific predicted mean salt intake was within reasonable difference from the best available evidence. An ML model based on readily available predictors estimated daily salt consumption with good accuracy. This model could be used to predict mean salt consumption in the general population where urine samples are not available.https://elifesciences.org/articles/72930artificial intelligencedeep learningcardio-metabolic risk factorscardiovascular healthglobal healthpopulation health
spellingShingle Wilmer Cristobal Guzman-Vilca
Manuel Castillo-Cara
Rodrigo M Carrillo-Larco
Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries
eLife
artificial intelligence
deep learning
cardio-metabolic risk factors
cardiovascular health
global health
population health
title Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries
title_full Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries
title_fullStr Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries
title_full_unstemmed Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries
title_short Development, validation, and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries
title_sort development validation and application of a machine learning model to estimate salt consumption in 54 countries
topic artificial intelligence
deep learning
cardio-metabolic risk factors
cardiovascular health
global health
population health
url https://elifesciences.org/articles/72930
work_keys_str_mv AT wilmercristobalguzmanvilca developmentvalidationandapplicationofamachinelearningmodeltoestimatesaltconsumptionin54countries
AT manuelcastillocara developmentvalidationandapplicationofamachinelearningmodeltoestimatesaltconsumptionin54countries
AT rodrigomcarrillolarco developmentvalidationandapplicationofamachinelearningmodeltoestimatesaltconsumptionin54countries