STOP-BANG Calculator
Table of contents
What is sleep apnea?How to screen for sleep apnea?How do I calculate the STOP-BANG OSA score?FAQsOur STOP-BANG calculator is a simple tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening. ๐๏ธ
We'll check for the most crucial risk factors and alarming symptoms associated with the disease and quickly describe all their essential details.
Read on to discover all the functional OSA scores, such as STOP-BANG, AHI calculator and the Epworth sleepiness scale.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a disease caused by multiple episodes of stopped breathing that disrupt the quality of your night's sleep. When untreated, the disease may lead to serious consequences, such as stroke or heart attack.
We can describe three different kinds of sleep apnea:
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). As featured in our STOP-BANG calculator, it's caused by the relaxation of muscles in your throat that subsequently obstruct the flow in your airways.
In simpler words, your body's trying to breathe, but the way's blocked.
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Central sleep apnea (CSA) is caused by a brain malfunction; your nervous system doesn't send the correct signals to the muscles responsible for breathing.
In simpler words, your body stops breathing at all. There is no blockage.
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Complex sleep apnea syndrome is a mixture of the two above types.
How to screen for sleep apnea?
STOP-BANG for sleep apnea is probably the most popular sleep apnea screening tool worldwide.
- Other valuable methods include the Epworth sleepiness and the pediatric Epworth sleepiness scales.
- You may also use the three-step Berlin questionnaire.
๐ด Take a look at our tools dedicated to identify OSA screening:
How do I calculate the STOP-BANG OSA score?
Our STOP-BANG score calculator uses a more complicated version of the classical OSA score. Here's how you can simply calculate it yourself: ๐งฎ
Letter | Meaning | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|---|
S | Snoring | 1 | 0 |
T | Tired | 1 | 0 |
O | Observed | 1 | 0 |
P | High pressure | 1 | 0 |
B | BMI > 35 | 1 | 0 |
A | Age > 50 years old | 1 | 0 |
N | Large neck size | 1 | 0 |
G | Gender is male | 1 | 0 |
Here's the longer explanation of all terms used in the table:
- Snoring. Does your partner hear you snoring? Does your snoring wake anybody up?
- Tired. Do you feel tired during the day? Do you fall asleep when you're not supposed to?
- Observed. Has anybody observed any stops in your breathing during sleep or any other unusual signs?
- High blood pressure, usually defined as blood pressure elevated above 140/90 (systole/diastole).
- A BMI (body mass index) of 35 or above puts you at higher risk of sleep apnea.
- Being older than 50 years increases your risk of sleep apnea.
- Large neck size. A collar size of 17 inches (43 cm) or more for men and 16 inches (41 cm) or more for women qualifies as a large neck size.
- Gender. Being male is a risk factor for both obstructive and central apnea.
That's it! Now, you're ready to compete with our STOP-BANG calculator! ๐ค
What are the OSA risk factors?
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk factors include:
- Large neck circumference;
- Male sex;
- Excess weight (BMI over 35);
- Elevated blood pressure or its treatment;
- Use of sedative drugs, tranquilizers, or narcotic drugs;
- Use of alcohol;
- Smoking; and
- Some diseases, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome.
How many questions are in the STOP-BANG questionnaire?
STOP-BANG consists of 8 questions, for which you can gather up to 8 points. You can interpret your scores as follows:
- 0-2: Low risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
- 3-4: Intermediate risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
- 5-8: High risk of obstructive sleep apnea.