What is the STOP-BANG questionnaire?

If you snore loudly, feel tired during the day, or have been told that you stop breathing during your sleep, you may wonder if obstructive sleep apnea is the cause. One simple tool often used to check your risks is called… STOP-BANG questionnaire.

The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a brief set of yes or no questions that help identify people who may be at risk of developing the disease. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This test does not diagnose sleep apnea, but it can help decide if you should talk to your health care professional about further testing.

What does STOP‑BANG stand for?

Each letter in STOP‑BANG represents a risk factor for sleep apnea:

• SNoring
• TRedness during the day
• HeyNoticeable pauses in breathing during sleep
• pReassurance (treatment of high blood pressure)
• forBody mass index (BMI) more than 35 kg/m2
• AOver 50 years old
• nShirt circumference (shirt collar 16 inches/40 cm or larger)
• gFinishes (paint?)

Each “yes” answer gets one point. The total score ranges from 0 to 8.

What do your grades mean?

A score of 3 or higher indicates an increased risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. People with higher scores are more likely to be referred for additional testing, such as an overnight stay Sleep study Or a Sleep apnea test at home.

The questionnaire is designed to be quick and easy. Some questions are based on symptoms you’ve noticed yourself, while others are based on basic health information, such as your age or body measurements.

Why is STOP‑BANG used?

Health care professionals often use the STOP-BANG questionnaire as a first step in identifying people who may have sleep apnea. Research shows that it is good at detecting moderate to severe sleep apnea, especially in clinical settings.

However, the tool is intended for screening only. A high score doesn’t mean you definitely have sleep apnea, and a low score doesn’t completely rule it out. Formal sleep evaluation is still needed for diagnosis.

What should you do next?

If your STOP‑BANG result indicates that you may be at risk for sleep apnea, the next step is to Talk to your doctor. They can review your symptoms and determine whether a sleep test is appropriate. If your sleep problems don’t improve, it may be time to see a sleep medicine doctor at a hospital AASM Certified Sleep Center.

Sleep apnea is a common and treatable condition. Identifying risks early can help you take steps toward better sleep and better health.

Medical review by Catherine 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, visit the official questionnaire website, www.stopbang.ca For more information and an interactive version of the questionnaire.