Sleep Apnea Classification Using the Mean Euler–Poincaré Characteristic and AI Techniques

Abstract

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that disrupts breathing during sleep. This study aims to classify sleep apnea using a machine learning approach and a Euler–Poincaré characteristic (EPC) model derived from electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. An ensemble K-nearest neighbors classifier and a feedforward neural network were implemented using the EPC model as inputs. ECG signals were preprocessed with a polynomial-based scheme to reduce noise, and the processed signals were transformed into a non-Gaussian physiological random field (NGPRF) for EPC model extraction from excursion sets. The classifiers were then applied to the EPC model inputs. Using the Apnea-ECG dataset, the proposed method achieved an accuracy of 98.5%, sensitivity of 94.5%, and specificity of 100%. Combining machine learning methods and geometrical features can effectively diagnose sleep apnea from single-lead ECG signals. The EPC model enhances clinical decision-making for evaluating this disease.

Keywords

• sleep apnea
• Euler characteristic
• machine learning
• random field