Intelligent decision support system for pulmonary tuberculosis detection using bipolar fuzzy utility matrix and bipolar Mamdani fuzzy inference system

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) stands as the second leading global infectious cause of death, following closely behind the impact of COVID-19. The standard approach to diagnose TB involves skin tests, but these tests can yield inaccurate results due to limited access to healthcare and insufficient diagnostic resources. To enhance diagnostic accuracy, this study introduces a novel approach employing a Bipolar Fuzzy Utility Matrix Inference System (BFUMIS) and a Bipolar Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System (BMFIS) to assess TB disease levels. By considering factors associated with the causation of TB, the study devises suitable membership functions for bipolar fuzzy sets (BFS) using both triangular and trapezoidal fuzzy numbers. Using a point factor scale, the study clusters the rules systematically and assesses the level of uncertainty within these grouped rules by utilizing bipolar triangular fuzzy numbers (BTFN). To handle the BTFN, this study proposes converting bipolar triangular fuzzy into bipolar crisp score (CBTFBCS) algorithm as a defuzzification method. The optimal bipolar fuzzy utility sets (BFUS) are determined from the bipolar fuzzy utility matrix to identify patients’ TB disease levels. These sets play a pivotal role in characterizing the severity of TB disease levels in patients. Additionally, rigorous validation of the utility framework is accomplished through measures of bipolar fuzzy satisfactory factors and sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, the study introduces the BMFIS, which presents a novel perspective on the conventional fuzzy inference system. This innovative system integrates the Mamdani fuzzy inference system (MFIS) into a bipolar fuzzy context, enriching the diagnostic process with enhanced insights. To demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed methods, extensive validation is carried out using actual clinical data. The performance metrics used in this validation effectively demonstrate the superiority of the proposed approach.