Validity of Modified STOP-Bang Questionnaire as a Screening Tool for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Diagnostic Tools
• Public Health

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition.
• Effective screening tools are crucial for early diagnosis and management.
• The traditional STOP-Bang questionnaire has limitations in certain populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a modified STOP-Bang questionnaire for OSA screening in the Korean population.
• To compare the diagnostic performance of the modified STOP-Bang questionnaire against the traditional version.
• To assess the utility of different body mass index references within the modified questionnaire.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1417 participants undergoing polysomnography.
• Classification of OSA severity with cut-off values of 3 or 4.
• Comparative analysis of modified and traditional questionnaires using receiver-operator characteristic curves.

Main Results:

• The modified STOP-Bang questionnaire demonstrated a significantly higher area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (0.786 ± 0.018) for any OSA group compared to the traditional one.
• A cut-off value of ≥4 for the modified questionnaire yielded significantly higher sensitivity for any OSA group.
• Diagnostic accuracy was also significantly improved with the modified questionnaire at a cut-off value of 4.

Conclusions:

• The modified STOP-Bang questionnaire, particularly with a cut-off value of 4, is a valid and superior screening tool for OSA in the Korean population.
• This modified tool offers improved sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy, making it a valuable alternative to the traditional STOP-Bang questionnaire.
• Further research may explore its applicability in diverse ethnic groups.