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. 2022 Sep 10;12(9):1416.
doi: 10.3390/life12091416.

A Comparison of the Reliability of Five Sleep Questionnaires for the Detection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Šárka Solecka  1   2 , Karel Matler  1 , Tomáš Kostlivý  3 , Vojtěch Kubec  3 , Hana Tomášková  2 , Jaroslav Betka  4
Affiliations

A Comparison of the Reliability of Five Sleep Questionnaires for the Detection of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Šárka Solecka et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the reliability of five sleep questionnaires in detecting the occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study was conducted on a group of 201 patients. The patients completed five sleep questionnaires: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the STOP-Bang questionnaire, the STOP questionnaire, the Berlin questionnaire (BQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Subsequently, the patients were examined using limited polygraphy, and the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires were evaluated. The STOP-Bang, Berlin and STOP questionnaires had the highest sensitivity for OSA detection (81.6%, 78.7%, and 74.2%, respectively), while the sensitivities of PSQI and ESS were low (50.8% and 34.5%). The ESS, STOP-Bang, STOP and Berlin questionnaires had the highest specificity (82.6%, 75%, 61.9%, and 61.9%). In our sample, we found the STOP-Bang and Berlin questionnaires to be the most suitable for OSA screening with the highest sensitivities (81.6%, 78.7%) and satisfactory specificities (75%, 61.9%). The STOP questionnaire was also relatively reliable, especially given its time-saving nature; though short, it preserved satisfactory sensitivity (74.2%) and specificity (61.9%). The ESS and PSQI were unsuitable for OSA screening.

Keywords: Berlin questionnaire; Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; STOP questionnaire; STOP-Bang questionnaire; obstructive sleep apnea.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart—the inclusion/exclusion process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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