Classification of Heart Failure Using Machine Learning: A Comparative Study

Our research demonstrates that machine learning algorithms can effectively predict heart failure, highlighting high-accuracy models that improve detection and treatment. The Kaggle “Heart Failure” dataset, with 918 instances and 12 key features, was preprocessed to remove outliers and features a distribution of cases with and without heart disease (508 and 410).
Five models were evaluated: the random forest achieved the highest accuracy (92%) and was consolidated as the most effective at classifying cases. Logistic regression and multilayer perceptron were also quite accurate (89%), while decision tree and k-nearest neighbors performed less well, showing that k-neighbors is less suitable for this data.
F1 scores confirmed the random forest as the optimal one, benefiting from preprocessing and hyperparameter tuning. The data analysis revealed that age, blood pressure and cholesterol correlate with disease risk, suggesting that these models may help prioritize patients at risk and improve their preventive management. The research underscores the potential of these models in clinical practice to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce costs, supporting informed medical decisions and improving health outcomes.