title: Sleepiness, fatigue, and risk of obstructive sleep apnea using the STOP-BANG questionnaire in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims: (1) to identify patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by utilizing the STOP-BANG questionnaire and (2) to evaluate the relationship between OSA risk as determined by the STOP-BANG questionnaire and self-reported sleepiness and fatigue using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 120 consecutive patients presenting to the UC Davis Neurology MS Clinic were invited to participate in an anonymous survey. The exclusion criteria were: age <18 years, indefinite MS diagnosis, or incomplete survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 103 subjects included in our study: 42% of subjects (n = 43) met the criteria for high-risk OSA, 69% of subjects (n = 71) screened high for fatigue (FSS ≥ 4), but only 24 subjects (23%) screened high for excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS > 10). In males, 44% of the variation in ESS scores and 63% in FSS scores were explained by the STOP-BANG components. However, only 17% of the variation in ESS scores and 15% of the variation in FSS scores was explained by the STOP-BANG components in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over 40% of MS patients were identified as high risk for OSA based on the STOP-BANG questionnaire. The STOP-BANG questionnaire offers clinicians an efficient and objective tool for improving detection of OSA risk in MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, PSSB Bldg Rm 3400 4150 V Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hardin
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Agius
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Apperson
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Brass
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012306:Risk; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires