A comparison of three questionnaires to predict the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome in adults

Abstract

Objective: To determine the differences in the prognosis of the risk of presenting Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome (SOAHS) by comparing the results of the Berlin questionnaire (CB), STOP-Bang (SB) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESE) in patients admitted to the Dos de Mayo National Hospital during the 2019-2020 period. Materials and methods: A quantitative, observational, descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional clinical study of diagnostic tests. A sample of 304 patients older than 18 years was included. The results are presented with frequencies, measures of central tendency and dispersion. An association of variables was made using the Chi2 test. The sensitivity and specificity of CB and ESE with respect to SB were measured. A significant p value of less than 0.05 was used. Results: An average age of 52.89 ± 15.97 years was obtained, predominating adults under 50 years of age (40.5%). 60.5% of the participants were male. The average BMI was 30.74 ± 6.02 kg/m2, with overweight predominating (43.4%). 42.8% had hypertension. According to the SB, CB and ESE; 77.0%, 62.5% and 60.5% had a high risk of presenting SOAHS respectively. The questionnaires found an association between age, sex, nutritional diagnosis and arterial hypertension and a high risk of presenting SOAHS (p <0.05). There is a weak correlation between SB and CB (Kappa: 0.39) and SB and ESE (Kappa: 0.33). Conclusions: Questionnaires are useful tools with the potential to predict SOAHS risk. They present a significant but weak correlation between their risk prognosis for this syndrome. However, they should be considered as rapid and reliable screening tests. Key words: Diagnosis, Sleep Apnea Syndromes, Surveys and Questionnaires, Polysomnography (Source: MeSH NLM).