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Sleepiness, fatigue, and risk of obstructive sleep apnea using the STOP-BANG questionnaire in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims: (1) to identify patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by utilizing the STOP-BANG questionnaire and (2) to evaluate the relationship between OSA risk as determined by the STOP-BANG questionnaire and self-reported sleepiness and fatigue using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), respectively.

Methods

A total of 120 consecutive patients presenting to the UC Davis Neurology MS Clinic were invited to participate in an anonymous survey. The exclusion criteria were: age <18 years, indefinite MS diagnosis, or incomplete survey.

Results

There were 103 subjects included in our study: 42% of subjects (n = 43) met the criteria for high-risk OSA, 69% of subjects (n = 71) screened high for fatigue (FSS ≥ 4), but only 24 subjects (23%) screened high for excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS > 10). In males, 44% of the variation in ESS scores and 63% in FSS scores were explained by the STOP-BANG components. However, only 17% of the variation in ESS scores and 15% of the variation in FSS scores was explained by the STOP-BANG components in females.

Conclusions

Over 40% of MS patients were identified as high risk for OSA based on the STOP-BANG questionnaire. The STOP-BANG questionnaire offers clinicians an efficient and objective tool for improving detection of OSA risk in MS patients.

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Abbreviations

AHI:

Apnea–hypopnea index

BMI:

Body mass index

EEG:

Electroencephalography

ESS:

Epworth Sleepiness Scale

FSS:

Fatigue Severity Scale

OSA:

Obstructive sleep apnea

MS:

Multiple sclerosis

PSG:

Polysomnography

UC:

University of California

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Steffany Lim, clinical research coordinator in UC Davis Department of Neurology, for her assistance in overseeing the administration of the survey and data collection.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Correspondence to Steven D. Brass.

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Dias, R.A., Hardin, K.A., Rose, H. et al. Sleepiness, fatigue, and risk of obstructive sleep apnea using the STOP-BANG questionnaire in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. Sleep Breath 16, 1255–1265 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0642-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0642-6

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