BACKGROUNDObstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is underdiagnosed. Screening patients at high risk of OSAHS is extremely important. Using the standard questionnaire to screen OSAHS is a practical method. This study aimed to evaluate the value of the STOP-Bang questionnaire (SBQ) in screening OSAHS in sleep-disordered breathing clinic by comparing it with the Epworth sleepiness scales (ESS), Berlin questionnaire, and STOP questionnaire.

METHODSIn this study, 212 patients at the sleep-disordered breathing clinic of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 2011 and January 2012 were prospectively included. They were asked to fill in the SBQ, ESS, Berlin questionnaire, and STOP questionnaire before overnight polysomnography (PSG). Using PSG as gold standard, the sensitivities and specificities of SBQ were compared with those of ESS, Berlin questionnaire, and STOP questionnaire.

RESULTSThere was no significance in applying ESS score ≥11 to screen OSAHS and detect moderate and severe OSAHS (P > 0.05). SBQ was superior to Berlin questionnaire and STOP questionnaire in screening OSAHS and detecting the severity of OSAHS patients. The sensitivities of SBQ score ≥3 with apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5/h, AHI ≥15/h, and AHI ≥30/h as gold standards were 94.9%, 96.5%, and 97.7%, respectively. The specificities were 50.0%, 28.6%, and 17.9%, respectively. The area upper curves were 0.815 (0.706-0.925, P < 0.01), 0.746 (0.665-0.828, P < 0.01), and 0.751 (0.686-0.817, P < 0.01), respectively. According to SBQ, the population was classified into high-risk group and low-risk group. The gender, BMI, neck circumference, AHI, LSpO2, and number of subjects of AHI ≥5/h, AHI ≥15/h, and AHI ≥30/h of these two groups were significantly different.

CONCLUSIONSThe SBQ has superior predictive value compared with ESS, Berlin questionnaire, and STOP questionnaire. It should be used further in screening for OSAHS in the general population.