Utilization of the STOP-Bang Questionnaire as a Standardized Screening Tool for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Veteran Administration Surgical Patients

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects an estimated 20% of the adult surgical population. Veteran patients have many characteristics consistent with OSA, but lack of standardized screening results in decreased detection of patients at risk for OSA. Design: Pre–post implementation design. Methods: Preanesthesia clinic providers were educated about OSA and the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Chart reviews evaluating screening and patient demographics were conducted before and after intervention. Findings: Thirty-one percent of patients had an established diagnosis of OSA. Compliance rates with preoperative STOP-Bang screening were 91.3%. Of patients screened preoperatively, 44% were at risk for OSA with a STOP-Bang score of 4 or greater. Conclusions: The prevalence of patients among the Veteran population with and at risk for OSA is higher than the general population. Utilization of the STOP-Bang questionnaire as a standardized preoperative screening tool in preanesthesia clinics can increase the identification of patients at risk for OSA.