An algorithm to simulate missing data for mixed meal tolerance test response curves.

BACKGROUND

Response curves formed by analyte concentrations measured at sampled time points after consuming a mixed meal are increasingly being used to characterize responses to differing diets. Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, analyte concentrations for some of the time points may be missing.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an algorithm to estimate the missing values at sampled time points in the analyte response curve to a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT).

DESIGN

We developed an algorithm to simulate the missing post-prandial concentration values for a MMTT. The algorithm was developed to handle any number of missing values for two or less consecutive missing values. The algorithm was tested on MMTT response curve data for glucose and triglyceride measurements in data from three different studies with a total of 2119 post-prandial MMTT response curves. The algorithm was validated by removing concentration values that were not missing and replacing them with the algorithm simulated values. The AUC error between the actual curve and simulated curves were also calculated. A web-based app was developed to automatically simulate missing values for an uploaded MMTT dataset.

RESULTS

The algorithm was programmed in Python and the resulting web-based applicaton and a video tutorial were provided. The validation indicated good agreement between actual and simulated values with error increasing for less frequently sampled time points. The study with the average minimum error of glucose concentrations was 6.2±2.1 mg/dL and study with the average maximum error of glucose concentrations was 11.3±4.7 mg/dL. Triglycerides had 16.1±6.2 mg/dL average error. The AUC error was small ranging between 0.01-0.28% CONCLUSIONS: The presented algorithm reconstructs post-prandial response curves with estimations of values that are missing.

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Declaration of Competing Interest ☒ The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Diana M. Thomas reports financial support was provided by National Institutes of Health.