STOP-BANG Questionnaire
The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a quick eight-point screening tool that estimates the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition that is common in people with obesity.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
The STOP-BANG questionnaire is a quick eight-point screening tool that estimates the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition that is common in people with obesity. It asks eight simple questions covering snoring, daytime tiredness, observed pauses in breathing, blood pressure, body mass index, age, neck size and sex. The more questions answered 'yes', the higher the risk of sleep apnoea.
Medical
Clinical Definition
The STOP-BANG questionnaire comprises eight dichotomous items: Snoring, daytime Tiredness, Observed apnoea, high blood Pressure, BMI above 35 kg/m², Age over 50 years, Neck circumference above 40 cm and male Gender. Scores of 3 or more indicate increased risk of obstructive sleep apnoea, while scores of 5 or more predict moderate-to-severe disease with high sensitivity, though polysomnography or home sleep testing is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Because obstructive sleep apnoea becomes more prevalent as body weight rises and independently worsens metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes, STOP-BANG is a recommended first-line screen in weight-management settings.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Obstructive sleep apnoea is common among weight-management patients and can drive daytime fatigue, cravings and stalled weight loss. A five-minute STOP-BANG screen tells us who needs a formal sleep study.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: September 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.
