Table 5.

Top ten predictive features identified by five models using the EPIC dataset.

Rank	SVM	Logistic Regression	Random Forest
1	∆EDSS	∆EDSS	∆EDSS
2	BRAIN_GREY_VOLUME	∆PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION	EDSS
3	CEREBELLAR_FUNCTION	VISIT_AGE	∆PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION
4	∆PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION	VENTRICULAR_CSF_VOLUME	PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION
5	ATTACKPREV2Y	CEREBELLAR_FUNCTION	BRAIN_WHITE_VOLUME
6	PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION	ATTACKPREV2Y	SENSORY_FUNCTION
7	VENTRICULAR_CSF_VOLUME	∆MENTAL_FUNCTION	VENTRICULAR_CSF_VOLUME
8	VISIT_AGE	MENTAL_FUNCTION	∆BOWEL_BLADDER_FUNCTION
9	∆BRAIN_GREY_VOLUME	PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION	TIMED_WALK_TRIAL
10	MENTAL_FUNCTION	BRAIN_GREY_VOLUME	BRAIN_GREY_VOLUME

Rank	XGBoost	LightGBM
1	∆EDSS	∆EDSS
2	EDSS	EDSS
3	PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION	PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION
4	∆PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION	∆PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION
5	VISIT_AGE	VISIT_AGE
6	ATTACKPREV2Y	ATTACKPREV2Y
7	MENTAL_FUNCTION	CEREBELLAR_FUNCTION
8	∆BOWEL_BLADDER_FUNCTION	∆BOWEL_BLADDER_FUNCTION
9	CEREBELLAR_FUNCTION	VENTRICULAR_CSF_VOLUME
10	VENTRICULAR_CSF_VOLUME	BRAIN_GREY_VOLUME

∆: change in the indicated variable.

ATTACKPREV2Y: number of clinical relapses (attacks) in the previous 2 years.

BOWEL_BLADDER_FUNCTION: measure of bowel and bladder function from 0 (normal) to 6 (loss of bowel and bladder function).

BRAIN_GREY_VOLUME: total brain gray matter volume.

BRAIN_WHITE_VOLUME: total brain white matter volume.

CEREBELLAR_FUNCTION: measure of cerebella function from 0 (normal) to 5 (severe ataxia)

EDSS: overall neurologic disability score.

MENTAL_FUNCTION: measure of mental function from 0 (normal) to 5 (dementia).

PYRAMIDAL_FUNCTION: measure of pyramidal function from 0 (normal) to 6 (tetraplegia).

SENSORY_FUNCTION: measure of sensory function from 0 (normal) to 6 (loss of sensation below head).

TIMED_WALK_TRIAL: average time (in seconds) for two trials of the 25-foot walk.

VENTRICULAR_CSF_VOLUME: volume of the cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles. In the EPIC study, this is usually reported in cm³.

VISIT_AGE: age of the subject.