"STOP BANG" Questionnaire: Validity to Screen Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in North African Population

Background: The aim of this study was to validate the predictive value of the questionnaire "STOP BANG" in the detection of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome syndrome (OSAS) and to identify patients at high risk of OSASS in anesthesia consultation in North African population. Methods: Prospective clinical study, consecutive, about 759 patients proposed for elective surgery and enjoying a remote anesthesia consultation in H. Bourguiba hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Included patients answered the questionnaire "STOP BANG". Patients with a score below 3 are considered low risk and represent the group (1). Patients with a score greater than or equal to 3 are considered high risk and represented the group (2). All patients were investigated by ventilator polygraphy to confirm the diagnosis of obstructive apnea syndrome. The apnea hypopnea index (AHI) greater than or equal to 5 confirmed the diagnosis of OSAS. Results: One hundred and fifty patients were included in the study. 41 patients had low risk of OSAS and represented the group (1) and 27.33% of included patients. 109 patients had high risk of OSAS and represented the group (2) and 72.66% of included patients. The diagnosis of OSAS was confirmed among 127 patients including 99 in the group (1) and 28 in the group (2). In our study results showed that the sensitivity of the score STOP BANG questionnaire was to the order of 87.1%, specificity was 47.8%, with positive and negative predictive values 90% and 40.74 respectively. The sensitivity of the questionnaire increased significantly with increasing AHI, it was 91.3% for IAH ≥ 15/H and 93.9% for AHI ≥ 30/H. Similarly, the predictive negative value of the questionnaire increased parallel with the increase in the AHI, it was 70.37% for AHI ≥ 15/H and 88.9% for AHI ≥ 30/H. Conclusion: The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value vary by IAH and score STOP BANG. These results show that the STOP BANG questionnaire is a good simple screening tool, easy, particularly suitable for anesthesia consultation. The questionnaire has excellent sensitivity and specificity to identify patients at high risk of OSAS.