Tools

STOP-Bang: sleep apnoea risk

Eight yes/no questions that estimate how likely obstructive sleep apnoea is: breathing that stops again and again during sleep. Everything is calculated on your device; nothing you answer is sent or stored.

Snoring

Do you snore loudly — louder than talking, or loud enough to be heard through a closed door? (Ask whoever sleeps near you.)

Tired

Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day, for example dozing off while driving or sitting?

Observed

Has anyone seen you stop breathing, or choke or gasp, while you sleep?

Pressure

Do you have high blood pressure, or are you being treated for it?

BMI

Is your BMI more than 35 kg/m²?

Not sure? Work it out

Enter height and weight; the answer is filled in for you.

Age

Are you older than 50?

Neck

Is your neck large? Measured around the Adam’s apple: 43 cm (17 in shirt collar) or more for men, 41 cm (16 in) or more for women.

Gender

Are you a man?

For adults 18 and over.

Your STOP-Bang score
—out of 8

Answer all eight questions.

0 of 8 answered

Sleepy while driving? Do not drive until you have seen a doctor.

How to read your score

ScoreRisk of moderate to severe sleep apnoea
0 – 2Low
3 – 4Intermediate; high if 2 or more of S, T, O, P are yes and you are a man, your BMI is over 35, or your neck is large
5 – 8High

The higher the score, the more likely sleep apnoea is. Among people sent to sleep clinics, a score of 3 or more picked up about 94% of those with moderate to severe sleep apnoea. But a questionnaire cannot diagnose it: only a sleep study can.

Why it matters

Untreated sleep apnoea is linked with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and road accidents from daytime sleepiness. Extra weight, especially around the neck and waist, is one of its strongest causes, and losing weight often makes it better. It is also important before an operation: tell the anaesthetist if your score is high.

Common questions

What does a STOP-Bang score mean?

Each yes scores 1 point, out of 8. A score of 0 to 2 means low risk of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea, 3 to 4 intermediate risk, and 5 to 8 high risk. A score of 3 or 4 also counts as high risk if at least two of the first four answers (snoring, tired, observed, pressure) are yes and you are a man, have a BMI over 35, or have a large neck.

Can STOP-Bang diagnose sleep apnoea?

No. It is a screening questionnaire: it tells you how likely sleep apnoea is. Only a sleep study (polysomnography or a home sleep test) can confirm or rule it out.

Is a low score a guarantee I do not have sleep apnoea?

No. A low score makes moderate to severe sleep apnoea less likely, but not impossible. The BMI and neck cut-offs were set in Canadian patients, and many Indians with sleep apnoea have a lower BMI than 35. If you snore loudly, stop breathing in your sleep or are sleepy in the day, see a doctor whatever your score.

Sources4
  1. Chung F, et al. STOP questionnaire: a tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology 2008;108:812-21.
  2. Chung F, et al. High STOP-Bang score indicates a high probability of obstructive sleep apnoea. Br J Anaesth 2012;108:768-75.
  3. Chung F, Abdullah HR, Liao P. STOP-Bang questionnaire: a practical approach to screen for obstructive sleep apnea. Chest 2016;149:631-8.
  4. Nagappa M, et al. Validation of the STOP-Bang questionnaire as a screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea among different populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2015;10:e0143697.

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