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Screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is about risk, not diagnosis. STOP-BANG helps decide who should move forward to home sleep apnea testing or in-lab polysomnography.

What STOP-BANG is

STOP-BANG is an 8-question risk tool. Each "yes" scores 1 point, for a total of 0 to 8. Higher scores suggest higher OSA probability, but only sleep testing can confirm diagnosis.

Why screening matters

OSA is common and often missed. Untreated OSA can affect blood pressure, cardiometabolic health, daytime alertness, and driving safety. Standardized screening improves case finding and supports earlier treatment when needed.

STOP‑BANG: the eight items

Each “Yes” = 1 point.

• S — Do you snore loudly (louder than talking or loud enough to be heard through closed doors)?
• T — Do you often feel tired, fatigued, or sleepy during the day?
• O — Has anyone observed you stop breathing during your sleep?
• P — Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?
• B — BMI more than 35 kg/m²?
• A — Age over 50?
• N — Neck circumference greater than 16 inches (40 cm)?
• G — Gender male?

How to use the score

0-2: lower risk, but symptoms can still justify testing.

3-4: intermediate risk; history and exam guide next steps.

5-8: high risk; formal sleep testing is usually appropriate.

When to get evaluated: snoring with witnessed pauses, daytime sleepiness, resistant hypertension, or high STOP-BANG score should prompt clinical follow-up.

Other tools

Other questionnaires, such as the Berlin Questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scale, can add context. Epworth mainly tracks subjective sleepiness. None of these tools replaces clinical history, physical exam, and objective testing when suspicion is meaningful.

Common traps

Wrong assumption: "Low score means no apnea." False. Strong symptoms can still justify testing.

Bad advice: "Only snorers need workup." OSA can present without obvious snoring.

Bottom line

• STOP-BANG is a useful OSA risk screen, not a diagnostic test.
• Higher score increases the need for formal sleep testing, especially with symptoms.
• Clinical judgment still matters; screening works best when combined with history and exam.

Next: When you need a sleep study—what we order and when.

Educational content only; this is not personalized medical advice. If you have urgent symptoms, seek emergency care.