The STOP-BANG Questionnaire: A Two-Minute Risk Screen
STOP-BANG is an eight-item questionnaire that estimates your odds of obstructive sleep apnea from snoring, tiredness, observed pauses, blood pressure, BMI, age, neck size, and sex. Three or more yes answers means elevated risk — and a reason to discuss testing.
Key takeaways
- The eight items: Snoring loudly, Tiredness, Observed apneas, Pressure (hypertension), BMI over 35, Age over 50, Neck over 40 cm, and male Gender.
- A score of 3 or more flags elevated OSA risk; scores of 5–8 indicate high probability and push clinicians toward prompt testing.
- STOP-BANG has been validated across surgical, primary-care, and sleep-clinic populations and remains the most widely used apnea screening tool worldwide.
- Screening is not diagnosis — plenty of high scorers test negative and some low scorers have apnea, so symptoms still guide the final call.
- You can self-score in two minutes; bring the result to your doctor alongside a two-week log of sleepiness and partner observations.
What This Guide Covers
STOP-BANG is an eight-item questionnaire that estimates your odds of obstructive sleep apnea from snoring, tiredness, observed pauses, blood pressure, BMI, age, neck size, and sex. Three or more yes answers means elevated risk — and a reason to discuss testing. This guide walks you through what matters most, why it happens, and the practical steps with the best support behind them.
First, the foundation: the eight items: Snoring loudly, Tiredness, Observed apneas, Pressure (hypertension), BMI over 35, Age over 50, Neck over 40 cm, and male Gender.
Next, the details: a score of 3 or more flags elevated OSA risk; scores of 5–8 indicate high probability and push clinicians toward prompt testing.
Then, the practical side: sTOP-BANG has been validated across surgical, primary-care, and sleep-clinic populations and remains the most widely used apnea screening tool worldwide.
Another angle worth knowing: screening is not diagnosis — plenty of high scorers test negative and some low scorers have apnea, so symptoms still guide the final call.
Finally, the big picture: you can self-score in two minutes; bring the result to your doctor alongside a two-week log of sleepiness and partner observations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is stop-bang questionnaire?
STOP-BANG is an eight-item questionnaire that estimates your odds of obstructive sleep apnea from snoring, tiredness, observed pauses, blood pressure, BMI, age, neck size, and sex. Three or more yes answers means elevated risk — and a reason to discuss testing.
How long until I see improvement?
Most of the strategies in this guide start showing effect within one to two weeks of consistent practice. Supplement- and device-based approaches vary more, so track your nights in a simple sleep diary and judge by weekly trends rather than single nights.
When should I see a doctor?
If the problem lasts more than a few weeks, disrupts your daytime functioning, or comes with warning signs such as breathing pauses, gasping during sleep, chest discomfort, or severe daytime sleepiness, it is time to consult a qualified healthcare professional rather than self-treating.