Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a High-Risk Population Using the Stop-Bang Questionnaire in Tehran, Iran

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. Despite its significant morbidities and mortality, the majority of patients with OSA remain undiagnosed. The epidemiology of OSA is well studied in Western countries, while there is scarce information on its epidemiology in other countries. We examined the prevalence of high-risk for OSA in a large urban region of Tehran, Iran.

Materials and methods: We randomly selected 4021 individuals above 18 years in clusters from different districts of Tehran and surveyed them using the Stop-Bang questionnaire. The questionnaire also incorporated the demographic characteristics, education level, history of coronary artery disease and diabetes, and women's menopausal status. A score of 3 or higher on the Stop-Bang questionnaire indicated the high risk of OSA.

Results: The study population consisted of 2075 (51.6%) females and 1946 (48.4%) males, with the mean age of 40.88 years (SD, 15.4) and mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.18 kg/m² (SD, 4.43). Overall, 51.4% of males and 26.5% of females (total, 1513; 38.6%) were classified in the high-risk group, according to the Stop-Bang questionnaire. The risk of OSA was directly correlated with BMI, advanced age, and history of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Conclusion: According to the Stop-Bang questionnaire, almost 1 out of every 3 individuals was classified in the high-risk group for OSA. Considering the significant morbidity and mortality of this disorder, it is considered a major health problem. Therefore, further detailed studies with confirmatory tests are recommended in order to plan strategies for the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of these patients.