A Retrospective review of the diagnostic value of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Stop-Bang Questionnaire in a regional Sleep Medicine Clinic

Title: A Retrospective review of the diagnostic value of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Stop-Bang Questionnaire in a regional Sleep Medicine Clinic
Author(s): E. O’Reilly, H. Danish, C. Hanlon, F. Afonso, J. Kiely
Institution: Respiratory Department, Mallow General Hospital, Co. Cork
Poster: Click to view poster
Category: Sleep
Abstract: This review aimed to assess the role of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the STOP-BANG (SB) questionnaire in triaging referrals to a regional specialist sleep clinic. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent, but remains both underdiagnosed and undertreated. The ESS and SB are common OSA assessment tools however their ability to help stratify patients requiring priority investigation is uncertain.

This retrospective review analysed records of public patients reviewed in a regional sleep medicine clinic in 2020. Gender, Apnoea-hyponea index (AHI), ESS and SB were analysed. Patients were compared using an AHI ≥15 as the cut-off due to the clinical practice of prescribing CPAP at this score. SB scores were categorised as 0-4 (low-intermediate risk), and 5-8 (high risk). ESS was categorised 0-10 and ≥11.

One hundred sixty patients were identified. SB was associated with a higher AHI score when examined as both a continuous and categorical (0-4 vs 5-8) variable, both (p<0.001). SB strongly correlated with AHI (r=0.638, p=<0.001) but ESS did not correlate with AHI (r=0.051, p=0.518). SB only correlated weakly with ESS (r=0.175, p=0.027).

SB has significantly superior correlation with AHI and should assist in prioritisation of referred patients for respiratory sleep assessment.