Diagnostic utility of obstructive sleep apnea screening questionnaires: a comprehensive meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
• Meta-Analysis

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a prevalent condition requiring effective screening tools.
• The Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder (SRBD) Scale is one such tool, but its diagnostic accuracy needs thorough evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder (SRBD) Scale for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
• To compare the performance of various screening questionnaires, including the Berlin questionnaire (BQ), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and STOP-BANG scale.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis of 34 observational studies was conducted.
• Diagnostic utility was assessed using pooled sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operator characteristic (SROC) curves.
• Subgroup analyses examined performance based on OSAS severity.

Main Results:

• The STOP-BANG scale demonstrated high sensitivity (0.89) and specificity (0.40).
• The Berlin questionnaire (BQ) showed a sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.48.
• The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) had lower specificity (0.73) but higher sensitivity (0.48).

Conclusions:

• The SRBD scale exhibits acceptable accuracy for OSAS detection.
• The STOP questionnaire is proposed as a user-friendly and accurate screening tool for identifying individuals at risk of OSAS.
• The ESS's higher specificity aids in prioritizing interventions for OSAS.