Screening

Sleep apnea screening tests

Q: Do these online tests replace a medical diagnosis?

No. The STOP-BANG, Epworth and Berlin questionnaires are validated screening tools that assess your risk of sleep apnea. They do not replace a sleep study prescribed by a doctor.

Q: Which screening test is the most reliable?

None is perfect. STOP-BANG is very sensitive (93% for moderate to severe sleep apnea, at a cut-off of 3) but not very specific: it also flags many people who do not have sleep apnea. The Berlin questionnaire has a sensitivity of about 77%. The Epworth scale measures sleepiness rather than sleep apnea itself.

Q: What should I do if my STOP-BANG score is high?

According to the authors, a score of 3 or more corresponds to an intermediate to high risk. Show it to your GP, who can refer you to an accredited sleep center. In Belgium, polysomnography is reimbursed by your health insurance fund on prescription.

These questionnaires are used in clinics to assess the risk of sleep apnea before a confirmation test. They do not replace a medical diagnosis, but they are a valuable first step. Each one produces a PDF report you can send to your doctor.

Important

These questionnaires are screening tools, not a diagnosis. A high score indicates a higher risk but does not confirm sleep apnea. Only a sleep study can give a diagnosis. See your doctor.

STOP-BANG

Widely used in clinics

A quick questionnaire, created in Toronto to screen patients before surgery and now one of the most studied.

SnoringTirednessObserved pausesHigh blood pressureBMIAgeNeck sizeSex

2 min 8 questions

Take the STOP-BANG →

Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)

Daytime sleepiness

Measures sleepiness during the day, one of the main symptoms of sleep apnea. Developed at the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne in 1991.

ReadingTelevisionPublic placeCar passengerRestingConversationAfter a mealTraffic

3 min 8 situations

Work out my Epworth score →

Berlin questionnaire

Complete, 3 categories

The most complete of the three. It covers snoring, tiredness and two risk factors (blood pressure, weight) in 3 categories.

Snoring and loudnessPauses in breathingTired after sleepDrowsy drivingHigh blood pressureBMI > 30

5 min 10 questions

Take the Berlin questionnaire →

Which test should I take?

Test	Time	Main focus	Sensitivity
STOP-BANG	2 min	Sleep apnea, screening before surgery	93%
Epworth	3 min	Daytime sleepiness	Varies
Berlin	5 min	Overall assessment	77%

Sensitivity for moderate to severe sleep apnea, according to the authors and the review by Feltner et al. (JAMA, 2022).

A high score? Take the next step

These questionnaires do not replace a medical diagnosis. If your scores point to a moderate or high risk, see your GP or go straight to an accredited sleep center in Belgium.

Find a sleep center → Understand the steps to a diagnosis

Frequently asked questions

Do these online tests replace a medical diagnosis?

Which screening test is the most reliable?

What should I do if my STOP-BANG score is high?

Sources

Chung F, et al. STOP-Bang Questionnaire: A Practical Approach to Screen for OSA. Chest. 2016;149(3):631-8.
Nagappa M, et al. Validation of the STOP-Bang Questionnaire: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2015;10(12):e0143697.
Johns MW. A New Method for Measuring Daytime Sleepiness: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Sleep. 1991;14(6):540-5.
Feltner C, et al. Screening for OSA in Adults: Updated Evidence Report for the USPSTF. JAMA. 2022;328(19):1951-1971.

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