Validation of the OSA50 questionnaire among patients referred for suspected obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive: sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disease with high prevalence associated with an increase of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Screening questionnaires are used to evaluate the predisposition of having/developing OSAS. The OSA50 questionnaire is based on four items: – Obesity: Waist circumference (males>102cm or Females>88cm) - 3 points – Snoring: Has your snoring ever bothered other people - 3 points – Apneas: Has anyone noticed that you stop breathing during your sleep? - 2points – 50: Are you aged 50 years or over? - 2 points Aim: To evaluate statistically the subjects’ OSA50 questionnaire with the data obtained in cardio-respiratory sleep study (CRSS). Methods: Retrospective study with a sample of 832 subjects with OSAS suggestive complaints and/or disease’s indirect signals that were evaluated through CRSS between October 2014 and September 2015. Results: A positive CRSS (AHI>5/h) was found in 66% of the sample – with an AHI mean of 15,23/h. The OSA50 questionnaire shows a weak positive correlation between AHI (p value = 0,001; r = 0,174), supine AHI (p value = 0,001; r = 0,130) and Desaturation Index (p value = 0.001; r = 0,180). After the categorization of AHI by severity levels it was observed a stronger correlation between OSA50 values Conclusion: The OSA50 questionnaire appears to have limited utility in a referred, sleep laboratory setting. Negative results help to identify some individuals as unlikely to have moderate-to-severe apnea, and may thereby prove useful in identification of patients who would benefit more from laboratory studies than home studies for symptom clarification.