title: The Kushida Index as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the validity of the Kushida Index for screening for sleep apnoea in a West of Scotland adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specific intra-oral measurements and respiratory polysomnography were carried out on 71 patients in this prospective study. The intra-oral measurements were applied to the Kushida formula to obtain a value for the Kushida Index. This value was compared to the diagnosis obtained using polysomnography in the conventional manner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity of the Kushida Index in this present study was 68% (95% CI 50-81) and the specificity was 71% (95% CI 52-84). The positive predictive value was 71% and the negative predictive value was 67%. The Mallampati score, Epworth sleepiness score and enlargement of the tongue, soft palate or tonsils were not statistically significantly related to a diagnosis of sleep apnoea (p >0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the limited sensitivity and specificity of the Kushida Index demonstrated in this study, this test cannot be recommended as a screening tool for sleep apnoea in a West of Scotland population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JZ. sachin.jauhar@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jauhar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orchardson
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Banham
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sherriff
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lyons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000502:physiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult