Sleep apnea risk
Sleep apnea risk and the STOP-Bang score
STOP-Bang is a short, widely used screening score for obstructive sleep apnea. Here is what it covers, how it is scored and what to do if it sounds like you.
The STOP-Bang questionnaire belongs to University Health Network in Toronto, which licenses its use on websites (stopbang.ca). Until we have that licence, we explain the score in our own words instead of hosting the questionnaire. The official version is at stopbang.ca.
Source
Chung F et al., Anesthesiology 2008; scoring and risk groups from Chung F et al., Br J Anaesth 2012 and Chest 2016. Owned by University Health Network, Toronto.
Validated in
Adults seen at pre-surgery clinics in Toronto, checked against overnight sleep studies (177 people in the first validation, 746 in the 2012 study).
Limits
A screening score, not a diagnosis. Only a sleep study can confirm sleep apnea. Built in surgical patients, so it may perform differently in the general public. Asks about male sex and neck size, so it may miss sleep apnea in women.
What STOP-Bang covers
STOP-Bang has eight yes or no items, one point each (Chung 2016). The four STOP items are about Snoring, Tiredness in the daytime, Observed pauses in breathing during sleep, and high blood Pressure. The four Bang items are BMI over 35, Age over 50, Neck size over 40 cm, and male Gender (Chung 2016).
How it is scored
| Score | Risk of moderate to severe sleep apnea |
|---|---|
| 0 to 2 | Low |
| 3 to 4 | Intermediate. Counted as high if 2 or more STOP items are yes and you are male, have a BMI over 35, or a neck over 40 cm |
| 5 to 8 | High |
These groups come from the score's authors (Chung 2016). In their study of 746 surgical patients, the chance of moderate to severe sleep apnea rose from 36% at a score of 3 to 60% at a score of 7 or 8 (Chung 2012). In the first study, the full score picked up 93% of people with moderate or worse sleep apnea and 100% of people with severe sleep apnea (Chung 2008).
What to do if this sounds like you
Common signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping or choking at night, and feeling very sleepy during the day (NHLBI). If you have these, tell your doctor; a home or lab sleep study can confirm it, and treatment helps (NHLBI). For people without symptoms, the US Preventive Services Task Force found too little evidence to recommend screening (USPSTF 2022).
More in STOP-Bang explained.
Sources
- Chung F, Yegneswaran B, Liao P, et al. STOP questionnaire: a tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea. Anesthesiology. 2008;108(5):812-821. doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0b013e31816d83e4
- Chung F, Subramanyam R, Liao P, et al. High STOP-Bang score indicates a high probability of obstructive sleep apnoea. Br J Anaesth. 2012;108(5):768-775. doi.org/10.1093/bja/aes022
- Chung F, Abdullah HR, Liao P. STOP-Bang Questionnaire: A Practical Approach to Screen for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Chest. 2016;149(3):631-638. doi.org/10.1378/chest.15-0903
- University Health Network. STOP-Bang Questionnaire (official site and licensing). www.stopbang.ca/
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH). Sleep Apnea. www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults: Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2022;328(19):1945-1950. www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults-screening
Written and maintained by the uncovermyrisk.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-25. Spotted an error? See About.