If you snore loudly, feel tired during the day, or have been told to stop breathing in your sleep, you may be wondering if sleep apnea could be the cause. A simple tool that is commonly used to check your risk is called STOP-BANG Questionnaire.
The STOP‑BANG Questionnaire is a short set of yes or no questions designed to identify people who may be at risk obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It does not diagnose sleep apnea, but it can determine whether you should talk to a health care professional about further testing.
What does STOP‑BANG mean?
Each letter in STOP‑BANG indicates a risk factor for sleep apnea:
- Sorange
- Tfatigue during the day
- OThere is a break in breathing during sleep
- Pressurure (treated for high blood pressure)
- Bbody mass index (BMI) over 35 kg/m2
- Aover 50 years old
- NShirt circumference (shirt sleeve 16 inches/40cm or larger)
- Gends (color?)
Each “yes” answer gives one point. The total score ranges from 0 to 8.
What does your score mean?
A score of 3 or higher indicates an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea. People with higher scores are more likely to apply for additional testing, such as an overnight stay sleep study or a home apnea test.
The questionnaire is designed to be quick and easy. Some questions are based on symptoms you observe yourself, while others rely on basic health information such as age or body measurements.
Why is STOP‑BANG used?
Health professionals often use the STOP‑BANG questionnaire as the first step in identifying people who may have sleep apnea. Studies show that it is good at identifying moderate and severe sleep apnea, especially in clinical settings.
However, this tool is intended for testing purposes only. A high score doesn’t mean you definitely have sleep apnea, and a low score doesn’t completely rule it out. A formal sleep assessment is still needed for diagnosis.
What should you do next?
If your STOP‑BANG score indicates that you are at risk for sleep apnea, the next step is to talk to your doctor. They can review your symptoms and decide if a sleep test is appropriate. If your sleep problems do not improve, it may be time to see a sleep doctor. AASM Accredited Sleep Center.
Sleep apnea is a common and treatable condition. Identifying your risk factors early can help you achieve better sleep and better health.
Medical review by Katherine Moawad, DO
Related Content:
This questionnaire is provided for educational purposes only. The STOP-BANG Questionnaire is owned by Dr. Francis Chung and UHN. To license the questionnaire for any other use, including clinical use, please visit the questionnaire’s official website, www.stopbang.ca For more information and an interactive version of the questionnaire.
