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Sleep Apnea Risk Screener

The validated STOP-BANG screener for obstructive sleep apnea.

STOP-BANG score

0/8

Low risk

Low probability of moderate-to-severe OSA. Maintain sleep hygiene; revisit if new symptoms develop.

⚠️ Screening tool only — not a diagnosis. A sleep study is required to confirm OSA.

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This sleep apnea risk screener uses the validated STOP-BANG questionnaire — the same 8-question instrument used in pre-operative anesthesia clinics and primary-care sleep evaluations worldwide — to estimate your probability of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In 60 seconds you'll get a low / intermediate / high risk classification, an explanation of each contributing factor, and a clear pathway to a polysomnography or home sleep apnea test.

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1Why Screening Matters

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most underdiagnosed common diseases in medicine. An estimated 936 million adults aged 30–69 worldwide have OSA at AHI ≥5/hour, and roughly 425 million have moderate-to-severe disease — yet 80%+ remain undiagnosed. Untreated OSA is independently associated with hypertension, atrial fibrillation, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, drowsy-driving accidents, and a meaningfully increased all-cause mortality risk.

1 in 4

Adult men in the US screen positive for OSA

80%+

Of OSA cases remain undiagnosed

2–4×

Increase in motor vehicle crash risk with untreated OSA

2How the STOP-BANG Score Works

⚡ STOP-BANG (0–8)

S Snore · T Tired · O Observed apneas · P Pressure (HTN) · B BMI >35 · A Age >50 · N Neck >40 cm · G Gender male
  • 0–2: Low risk of moderate-to-severe OSA.
  • 3–4: Intermediate risk — clinical assessment recommended.
  • 5–8: High risk — sleep study strongly indicated.
  • Specificity rises sharply when STOP positive ≥2 plus any BANG item is positive.

3What Each Question Actually Measures

Snoring

Loud habitual snoring is the single most sensitive symptom of upper-airway collapse during sleep.

Tiredness

Excessive daytime sleepiness reflects sleep fragmentation from repeated arousals at the end of each apneic event.

Observed apneas

Witnessed pauses in breathing — the most specific symptom; a positive answer should always trigger formal testing.

Blood pressure

Resistant or treatment-requiring hypertension is independently associated with OSA in 30–50% of patients.

BMI / Neck / Age / Sex

Anthropometric and demographic risk amplifiers — they multiply pretest probability rather than confirming disease.

4OSA vs Central Sleep Apnea — They're Not the Same

✅ Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Upper airway collapses during sleep despite continued effort to breathe.

Snoring + struggle. Treated with CPAP, oral appliances, weight loss, surgery.

❌ Central sleep apnea (CSA)

Brain transiently fails to signal the diaphragm. No effort during the event.

No snoring. Linked to heart failure, opioids, high altitude, stroke.

The screener is built for OSA, which represents 85–90% of clinical sleep apnea. If you have a history of heart failure, chronic opioid use, or stroke, central or mixed apnea must be ruled out by a sleep physician — STOP-BANG underperforms in those populations.

5Why It Matters Beyond Sleep Quality

Each apneic event drops oxygen saturation, surges sympathetic tone, and spikes blood pressure. Repeat that 30+ times an hour, every hour, every night, and the cumulative cardiometabolic load is staggering. Treating OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) reduces blood pressure, improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, lowers the recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation after cardioversion, and restores normal daytime cognition in most adherent patients.

6From Screen-Positive to Diagnosis

  1. Screen positive on this tool (STOP-BANG ≥3) — book a primary-care visit.
  2. Clinician reviews symptoms, comorbidities, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
  3. Sleep study is ordered: home sleep apnea test (HSAT) for high-pretest, no-comorbidity adults; polysomnography for the rest.
  4. Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) is calculated. Mild 5–14, moderate 15–29, severe ≥30.
  5. Treatment plan: CPAP for moderate/severe; positional therapy, oral appliances, weight loss, or hypoglossal nerve stimulation for selected mild cases.

7Treatment Options Demystified

CPAP

Gold standard for moderate-severe OSA. Modern auto-titrating, masks are quieter and lighter than a decade ago. ~70% adherent at 1 yr.

Mandibular advancement devices

Custom dental appliances; effective for mild-moderate OSA and CPAP-intolerant patients.

Positional therapy

Devices preventing supine sleep help the ~30% of patients with strictly positional OSA.

Weight management

10% body weight loss can reduce AHI by 25–50% in patients with BMI >30.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation

Implantable device (Inspire). Approved for moderate-severe OSA failing CPAP, BMI <35.

Surgery

UPPP, maxillomandibular advancement, or pediatric tonsillectomy — case-selected.

8Limitations of Self-Screening

9Authoritative Sources

  • Chung et al., STOP-BANG questionnaire validation studies (2008–2016).
  • Benjafield et al., Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of OSA, Lancet Respir Med (2019).
  • AASM Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea (2017).
  • Patil et al., Treatment of Adult OSA with PAP, J Clin Sleep Med (2019).

Frequently asked questions

Is STOP-BANG accurate?+

It's the most validated OSA screener in primary care, with high sensitivity (~93%) for moderate-to-severe sleep apnea at a cutoff of 3+.

What if I screen high-risk?+

Speak to a clinician. They'll typically arrange a home sleep apnea test or polysomnography to measure your AHI.

Can women have sleep apnea?+

Yes — particularly post-menopausal women. STOP-BANG underestimates risk in lean and female patients, so symptoms still matter even with a low score.

What are the warning signs of sleep apnea?+

Loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, gasping awakenings, morning headache, daytime sleepiness, and refractory hypertension are the classic five.

Can I have sleep apnea without snoring?+

Yes — central sleep apnea and upper-airway resistance syndrome can cause daytime fatigue without obvious snoring, especially in lean adults and women.

Will losing weight cure sleep apnea?+

A 10% weight loss reduces AHI (apnea-hypopnea index) by ~25% on average — meaningful but rarely curative for moderate-to-severe cases.

How is sleep apnea treated?+

CPAP remains gold standard, with oral appliances, positional therapy, and surgical options for select cases. New GLP-1 medications and hypoglossal nerve stimulators are expanding choices.

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