STOP-BANG Sleep Apnea Risk Assessment

How to calculate the STOP-BANG score?

The STOP-BANG assessment uses eight objective criteria to evaluate your risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). For each question where you meet the specific criteria, you receive one point, contributing to a total score ranging from 0 to 8.

Score = S + T + O + P + B + A + N + G

Using the STOP-BANG calculator: an example

Consider a 55-year-old male patient who reports loud snoring and has a measured BMI of 36. He does not have high blood pressure, does not feel excessively tired, and has never been observed stopping breathing during sleep.

Step-by-step calculation:

• Snoring (S): Yes (+1 point)
• BMI (B): 36 is greater than 35 (+1 point)
• Age (A): 55 is greater than 50 (+1 point)
• Gender (G): Male (+1 point)
• Total Score: 4 (Intermediate Risk)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a diagnosis?
No, the STOP-BANG is a screening tool used to identify risk levels. A formal diagnosis of sleep apnea requires a clinical evaluation and a sleep study (polysomnography).

What are the risk categories?
Scores of 0-2 indicate Low Risk, 3-4 indicate Intermediate Risk, and 5-8 indicate High Risk for obstructive sleep apnea.

What should I do if my score is high?
If you have an intermediate or high-risk score, you should share these results with your primary care physician or a sleep specialist for further medical assessment.