A sleep apnea questionnaire serves as a preliminary screening tool, designed to help assess the potential risk of obstructive sleep apnea. It involves questions about sleep habits, physical characteristics, and general health. This tool is a starting point for discussion about sleep health, not a formal medical test or a definitive diagnosis. It helps identify individuals who might benefit from further medical evaluation for sleep-related breathing disorders.
Common Sleep Apnea Questionnaires
The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a widely used preliminary screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea risk. This eight-item questionnaire covers symptoms and physical characteristics. Each letter in STOP-BANG represents a specific question or characteristic.
The “STOP” portion includes four questions: Do you Snore loudly (loud enough to be heard through closed doors or by your bed-partner)? Do you often feel Tired or sleepy during the daytime? Has anyone Observed you stop breathing or choking/gasping during your sleep? Do you have or are you being treated for high blood Pressure? The “BANG” portion refers to physical characteristics: Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m², Age older than 50 years, Neck circumference large (17 inches/43 cm or larger for males, 16 inches/41 cm or larger for females), and Gender = Male. Each “yes” answer indicates a potential risk factor. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is another tool that measures the likelihood of falling asleep in various daily situations, providing insight into daytime sleepiness, a common symptom of sleep apnea.
Interpreting Your Results
Interpreting the STOP-BANG questionnaire results involves assigning one point for each “yes” answer to the eight questions. The total score can range from 0 to 8, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
A score of 0 to 2 points suggests a low risk for obstructive sleep apnea. An intermediate risk is indicated by a score of 3 or 4 points. A score of 5 to 8 points classifies an individual as high risk for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Next Steps After Taking the Questionnaire
Receiving a high-risk score on a sleep apnea questionnaire is not a diagnosis; it serves as an indicator for the need for further medical evaluation. The primary next step involves scheduling an appointment with a healthcare professional, such as a family doctor or a sleep specialist, to discuss your questionnaire results and any observed symptoms. Providing your doctor with the completed questionnaire can help guide the conversation and inform their assessment.
Your doctor may recommend a formal sleep study, known as polysomnography, to confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea. This test typically takes place overnight in a sleep lab or, in some cases, can be done at home with portable monitoring equipment. The sleep study collects detailed information about your breathing patterns, heart rate, oxygen levels, and other physiological data during sleep, which is necessary for an accurate diagnosis and to determine the severity of any sleep disorder.