STOP-Bang: Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in a Cognitive Disorders Clinic

Study background: Obstructive sleep apnoea may be one of the few reversible causes of cognitive impairment. Hence its reliable identification in patients referred to dedicated cognitive disorders clinics is important. Method: STOP-Bang, a validated questionnaire for obstructive sleep apnoea, was administered to consecutive new patients attending a dedicated cognitive disorders clinic based in a regional neuroscience centre. Results: Almost half of those completing the STOP-Bang were screen positive, although on clinical grounds the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea was seldom considered likely; many were diagnosed with other explanations for their cognitive impairment. Conclusion: STOP-Bang is likely a very sensitive screening instrument which may generate large numbers of false positives in a cognitive disorders clinic, which might have significant service implications for onward referral to sleep disorders clinics.