The novel application of artificial neural network on bioelectrical impedance analysis to assess the body composition in elderly

Background This study aims to improve accuracy of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) prediction equations for estimating fat free mass (FFM) of the elderly by using non-linear Back Propagation Artificial Neural Network (BP-ANN) model and to compare the predictive accuracy with the linear regression model by using energy dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as reference method. Methods A total of 88 Taiwanese elderly adults were recruited in this study as subjects. Linear regression equations and BP-ANN prediction equation were developed using impedances and other anthropometrics for predicting the reference FFM measured by DXA (FFM DXA ) in 36 male and 26 female Taiwanese elderly adults. The FFM estimated by BIA prediction equations using traditional linear regression model (FFM LR ) and BP-ANN model (FFM ANN ) were compared to the FFM DXA . The measuring results of an additional 26 elderly adults were used to validate than accuracy of the predictive models. Results The results showed the significant predictors were impedance, gender, age, height and weight in developed FFM LR linear model (LR) for predicting FFM (coefficient of determination, r 2 = 0.940; standard error of estimate (SEE) = 2.729 kg; root mean square error (RMSE) = 2.571kg, P < 0.001). The above predictors were set as the variables of the input layer by using five neurons in the BP-ANN model (r 2 = 0.987 with a SD = 1.192 kg and relatively lower RMSE = 1.183 kg), which had greater (improved) accuracy for estimating FFM when compared with linear model. The results showed a better agreement existed between FFM ANN and FFM DXA than that between FFM LR and FFM DXA. Conclusion When compared the performance of developed prediction equations for estimating reference FFM DXA , the linear model has lower r 2 with a larger SD in predictive results than that of BP-ANN model, which indicated ANN model is more suitable for estimating FFM.