Sound Sleep Guru

Sleep Apnea Screening Tools⁣

Is it possible to know if I have obstructive sleep apnea without seeing a sleep specialist?

Two common screening tools used for obstructive sleep apnea are the Berlin questionnaire and the STOP-BANG which are validated for obstructive sleep apnea. 

For a non-sleep specialist it may be helpful to have a quick screening tool to identify patients who are at a high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. ⁣

The STOP-BANG questionnaire is >90% sensitive for predicting moderate to severe OSA (Hsiao-Yean Chiu et al. Sleep Med Rev. 2017 Dec). I prefer it over the Berlin because it is easier to score. However the STOP-BANG requires measuring a neck circumference which may not be as easy for others. ⁣

 

Questions about sleep apnea screening? ⁣

 

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