STOP-BANG Score for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

What is STOP-BANG Score?

The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a screening tool used to assess the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It consists of eight yes-or-no questions, and the acronym “STOP-BANG” stands for:

• S – Snoring: Do you snore loudly (louder than talking or loud enough to be heard through closed doors)?
• T – Tiredness: Do you often feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during daytime?
• O – Observed: Has anyone observed you stop breathing during your sleep?
• P – Blood Pressure: Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
• B – BMI (Body Mass Index) Over 35 kg/m²: Is your BMI more than 35 kg/m²?
• A – Age Over 50 Years: Are you older than 50 years old?
• N – Neck Circumference: Is your neck circumference greater than 40 cm (16 inches)?
• G – Gender: Are you male?

Each “yes” answer is scored as 1 point, while “no” answers receive 0 points. The total score ranges from 0 to 8, with higher scores indicating a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

This questionnaire helps healthcare providers quickly assess the likelihood of a patient having sleep apnea, prompting further evaluation and management if necessary.

STOP-BANG Score Interpretation

• Low Risk: Scores of 0 to 2 indicate a low risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• Intermediate Risk: Scores of 3 to 4 suggest an intermediate risk of OSA.
• High Risk: Scores of 5 to 8 indicate a high risk of OSA.

Patients who score high may require further evaluation through sleep studies or consultation with a sleep specialist.

References:

• Chung F, Yegneswaran B, Liao P, Chung SA, Vairavanathan S, Islam S, Khajehdehi A, Shapiro CM. STOP questionnaire: a tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology. 2008 May;108(5):812-21. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31816d83e4. PMID: 18431116.