Validation of a Portuguese version of the STOP-Bang questionnaire as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea: Analysis in a sleep clinic.
BACKGROUND
Screening methods have become increasingly important owing to the growing number of patients suspected of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) being referred for sleep consultation. The STOP-Bang questionnaire has been validated as a screening tool for OSA in surgical patients.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of a Portuguese version of the STOP-Bang questionnaire for the diagnosis of OSA in a sleep clinic.


METHODS
Prospectively, for 2 months, all patients referred to our clinic for clinical evaluation completed a translated version of the STOP-Bang questionnaire in Portuguese and underwent a sleep study.


RESULTS
We observed 216 patients and 215 (99.5%) were included. Age was 53.63±13.10 years, 63.3% were male patients, neck circumference was 40.4±44.11 cm and BMI was 29.41 [26.85; 33.06] kg/m(2). OSA was present in 78% of the patients, of whom, 33% had moderate and 37% had severe OSA. A STOP-Bang score ≥3 had a sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) for OSA of 93.4% and 86.6%, respectively. Each increase in the STOP-Bang score was associated with an increase in the probability of OSA and severe OSA; reaching a 95% OSA probability, for a score of 6, and a 73% severe OSA probability, for a score of 8. A score of 3 and 2 had a negative predictive value for moderate/severe OSA of 85.3% and 91.7%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The STOP-Bang questionnaire showed high sensitivity and PPV for OSA with the probability of severe OSA steadily increasing, the higher the scores. Furthermore, a low score showed high predictive value for the exclusion of moderate/severe OSA. The STOP-Bang questionnaire can be a powerful tool for stratifying patients in the diagnosis of OSA.
Respiratory Department, Centro Hospitalar de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal. Electronic address: ricardomcreis@gmail.com.
R
R
Reis
Sleep Medicine Center, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.
F
F
Teixeira
Sleep Medicine Center, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.
V
V
Martins
Sleep Medicine Center, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.
L
L
Sousa
Sleep Medicine Center, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.
L
L
Batata
Sleep Medicine Center, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.
C
C
Santos
Sleep Medicine Center, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal.
J
J
Moutinho
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Diagnosis; Obstructive sleep apnea; STOP-Bang questionnaire; Screening