The STOP-BANG score and lung function in a general population

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) commonly coexists with lung disease. However, the association between OSA components and lung function remains unclear. This study estimated STOP-BANG scores according to lung function using nationwide Korean data.

Materials and methods: Three thousand and two hundred eighty adults with available STOP-BANG scores and spirometry data were analyzed. Multivariate regression models were applied to estimate STOP-BANG scores according to lung function.

Results: Approximately 28% of participants had abnormal lung function, and the characteristics were diverse. The significant factors associated with abnormal lung function included the STOP-BANG score. In multivariate regression analyses, individuals with abnormal lung function had significantly higher STOP-BANG scores than those with normal lung function (odds ratio: 1.19; 95% confidence interval: 1.10- 1.29; P < 0.001), and this difference was remarkable in men.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that screening and management of OSA components are warranted to prevent impaired lung function.