Equations

(Open Calc) STOP-BANG Score for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background

1. Screens for obstructive sleep apnea only
   • Do not use in central sleep apnea
2. Use in
   • Patients undergoing preoperative evaluation
   • Patients presenting to a clinic setting with symptoms associated with OSA, such as
     • daytime drowsiness, snoring, observed periods of nighttime apnea, noisy breathing, etc
3. Unnecessary if a patient has already been diagnosed with OSA or uses CPAP at night
4. One of the most widely accepted screening tools for OSA

1. Do you snore loudly (loud enough to be heard through closed doors/> than talking noise)?
   • No: 0 pts
   • Yes: 1 pt
2. Do you often feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during the daytime?
   • No: 0 pts
   • Yes: 1 pt
3. Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep?
   • No: 0 pts
   • Yes: 1 pt
4. Do you have (or are you being treated for) high blood pressure?
   • No: 0 pts
   • Yes: 1 pt
5. BMI
   • ≤ 35 kg/m²: 0 pts
   • > 35 kg/m²: 1 pt
6. Age
   • ≤ 50 years: 0 pts
   • > 50 years: 1 pt
7. Neck circumference
   • ≤ 40 cm: 0 pts
   • > 40 cm: 1 pt
8. Gender
   • Female: 0 pts
   • Male: 1 pt

Score/Interpretation

• STOP-BANG Score
  • < 3
    • Risk: low-risk of OSA
  • ≥ 3
    • Risk: high-risk of OSA

References

1. Chung F, Yegneswaran B, Liao P, et al. STOP questionnaire: a tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology. May 2008;108(5):812-21.
2. Chung F, Subramanyam R, Liao P, et al. High STOP-Bang score indicates a high probability of obstructive sleep apnoea. Br J Anaesth. May 2012;108(5):768-75.

Updated/Reviewed: January 2023