Research Article

Evaluation of Screening Tools for Predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patients at Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital, Sudan 2022

Authors: Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan Ibrahim, ELrasheid Ali Awuda Mohamed, Mohammed Ibrahim Hassan Ibrahim.

DOI: 10.33425/2833-0390.1042

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Abstract

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that often requires lifelong care and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Various clinical scales and questionnaires have been developed to evaluate patients with high probability of OSA, but their comparative effectiveness in clinical settings remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of three screening tests—Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Stop Bang Questionnaire (SBQ), and Adjusted Neck Circumference (ANC)—in predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnea against polysomnography as the gold standard.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted on 100 Sudanese patients who underwent respiratory polysomnography at Al-Shaab Teaching Hospital from December 2021 to April 2022. All participants were assessed using the three screening tools prior to polysomnography. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy calculated for each screening method.

Results: Among the 100 participants, polysomnography confirmed OSA in 91% of cases (29% mild, 44% moderate, 18% severe). The Epworth Sleepiness Scale identified 38% of participants with abnormal scores and demonstrated the highest specificity (88.9%), while the Stop Bang Questionnaire classified 73% as high-risk and showed higher sensitivity (72%) and better overall accuracy (68%). The Adjusted Neck Circumference method classified 44% of participants as high-risk. Significant associations were found between OSA severity and hypertension (p<0.001) and increased neck circumference (p=0.049), with 67% of participants being hypertensive.

Conclusion: Following standard diagnosis using polysomnography, both the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Stop Bang Questionnaire provide acceptable levels of sensitivity and specificity for OSA screening, with the Stop Bang Questionnaire demonstrating superior accuracy. These screening tools should be implemented in primary healthcare settings to facilitate early identification of patients with high probability of Obstructive Sleep Apnea, particularly among those with hypertension and increased neck circumference.

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