Assessment - Questionnaires
The following questionnaires can be used to identify patients who may have OSA.
The online version of the ESS OSA50 and STOP-Bang can be completed via the links below.
To qualify for a Medicare rebate for a home-based study patients need to
| score 8 or more on ESS | AND | score 5 or more on OSA50 | OR | score 3 or more on STOP-Bang |
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) 1 determines subjective daytime sleepiness
by asking individuals to rate their chance of dozing off in eight situations; an ESS of >10 is higher than normal, >16 indicative of pathological daytime sleepiness. The numerical outcome however is not always a reliable measure of the severity of the complaint.2, 3 Some patients may deny or downplay their sleepiness for fear of having their drivers licence restricted; or they may be unaware of the severity of their sleepiness, and not always recognise significant daytime dysfunction.1 Medical history, and in some instances history from a spouse or partner, is best suited to determine the probability of clinically relevant OSA.
1. Obesity (as assessed by waist circumference)
2. Snoring
3. Witnessed Apnoeas
4. Age ≥50 years
An OSA50 score ≥5 points has been found to have 94% sensitivity with 31% specificity for identifying moderate-severe OSA in primary care.5
- Snoring loudly
- Tired
- Observed stop breathing
- high blood Pressure
and 4 examination or demographic features
- BMI >35 kg/m2
- Age >50 years
- Neck size >40cm
- male Gender
Berlin Questionnaire
The Berlin Questionnaire
(BQ) is a sleep apnoea screening questionnaire used to identify the low
to high risk of sleep disordered breathing. The questionnaire consists
of 11 questions and 3 categories. Risk is based on the responses to
individual items and overall scores in the symptom categories.7
Insomnia Severity Index
Up to 50% of OSA patients report co-morbid insomnia symptoms that can be managed with non-pharmacological cognitive behavioural treatment for insomnia. The Insomnia Severity Index is a 7-item self-report measure of global insomnia severity. A score of ≥15 indicates ‘clinically significant insomnia’ in the presence of OSA.8, 9, 10
AHI - Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index
BBTi - Brief Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia
BMI - Body Mass Index (kg/m2)
BQ - Berlin Questionnaire
CBTi - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia
CELL - Coblation Endoscopic Lingual Lightening
COPD - Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident
CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
CSA - Central Sleep Apnoea
DASS - Depression Anxiety Stress Scale
DBAS - Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep
DBP - Diastolic Blood Pressure
DIMS - Difficulties Initiating and/or Maintaining Sleep
DISE - Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy
DISS - Daytime Insomnia Symptom Scale
ENT - Ear Nose and Throat
ESS - Epworth Sleepiness Scale
FOSQ - Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire
FSH - Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
FTP - Friedman Tong Position
GP - General Practitioner
HANDI - RACGP Handbook of Non-Drug Interventions
HGNS - Hypoglossal Herve Htimulation
ISI - Insomnia Severity Index
K10 - Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
MAD - Mandibular Advancement Device
MAS - Mandibular Advancement Rplint
MBS - Medicare Benefits Schedule
MMA - Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery
MRA - Mandibular Repositioning Appliance
ODI - Oxygenation Desaturation Index
OSA - Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
PLMD - Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
PT - Positional Therapy
PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PSG - Polysomnography
QSQ - Quebec Sleep Questionnaire
REM - Rapid Eye Movement
RFTB - Radiofrequency Thermotherapy of the Tongue Base
SBP - Systolic Blood Pressure
SCI - Sleep Condition Indicator
SE - Sleep Efficiency
SF36 - Short-Form (36) Health Survey
SMILE - Submucosal Minimally Invasive Lingual Excision
SNRIs - Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
SOL - Sleep Onset Latency
SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
TFTs - Thyroid Function Tests
TIB - Time In Bed
TORS - Transoral Robotic Surgery
TST - Total Sleep Time
UPPP - Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
WASO - Wake After Sleep Onset