Screening diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome in patients with ischemic stroke

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of the STOP-BANG questionnaire, Berlin questionnaire, and the Epworth sleepiness scale in the screening diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome in patients with ischemic stroke.Materials and methods. We examined 107 patients (45 women and 62 men; the median age was 64 (56; 74) (aged 36–88). The study involved questioning using the STOP-BANG questionnaire, Berlin questionnaire, Epworth sleepiness scale, and nocturnal respiratory polygraphy.Results. Among 75 patients with sleep apnea syndrome, the STOP-BANG questionnaire, Berlin questionnaire, and the Epworth sleepiness scale showed sensitivity — 91 %, 72 %, 51 %, respectively, specificity — 53 %, 78 %, 84 %, respectively, diagnostic accuracy — 72 %, 75 %, 68 % respectively, positive predictive value — 82 %, 89 %, 88 %, respectively, and negative predictive value — 71 %, 54 %, 42 %, respectively.Conclusion. The STOP-BANG questionnaire and the Berlin questionnaire are convenient and informative for the screening assessment of the risk of sleep apnea syndrome in patients with ischemic stroke, but their use should be complemented by instrumental diagnostic methods for reliable exclusion of sleep-disordered breathing.