Outcomes for the ESS, Berlin questionnaire, OSA-50, STOP-Bang and GPSS in our whole cohort. Credit score: Sleep Drugs (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.11.022
Many Australians may very well be affected by undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with Charles Darwin College (CDU) researchers growing a brand new method to display screen for the possibly deadly situation.
A pilot examine performed within the Northern Territory discovered the brand new Normal Apply Sleep Scale (GPSS)-OSA questionnaire carried out “significantly better” than present widespread screening instruments for OSA—together with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Berlin Questionnaire and OSA-50. The examine is printed within the journal Sleep Drugs.
That includes a broader, extra inclusive scope of questions throughout classes together with age, intercourse and affected person expertise, the GPSS is designed to extend accessibility, ease and accuracy, with sufferers in a position to full the questionnaire in a ready room previous to a medical appointment.
OSA can result in critical well being issues together with (however not restricted to) coronary heart illness, stroke, diabetes and hypertension; in addition to enhance the danger of automotive and office accidents if left untreated.
It’s also one of the crucial widespread types of sleep problem encountered in day-to-day medical follow, with prevalence as excessive as 38% within the common grownup inhabitants.
The examine’s lead creator, former CDU Ph.D. candidate Dr. Timothy Howarth, mentioned the GPSS-OSA was additionally an enchancment over the STOP-Bang screening device.
“Screening tools need to avoid two things—(1) not referring patients who do have OSA and (2) referring patients who do not have OSA,” he defined.
“In our examine, if referrals had been made primarily based on a ‘reasonable’ rating for the STOP-Bang, 59% of sufferers wouldn’t be referred, and of these, 50% would have OSA.
“In contrast, using a ‘moderate’ score on the GPSS, 14% of patients would not be referred, and of those 0% would actually have OSA.”
Early prognosis and remedy can considerably cut back the harms related to sleep problems, together with OSA.
The examine’s lead co-author—CDU College of Drugs and Royal Darwin Hospital and Darwin Respiratory Sleep Well being—Darwin Personal Hospital Respiratory and Sleep specialist, Professor Subash Heraganahally, mentioned that regardless of the supply of present screening instruments, OSA remained largely underdiagnosed.
“More than 50% of patients who don’t meet the current referral criteria in Australia recorded moderate to severe OSA on completing a diagnostic polysomnography (PSG),” he mentioned.
“In 2023, 80.8% of GP attendances had been six-to-20-minute consultations, highlighting that the time taken to fill a number of questionnaires inside a session is probably going a major barrier to evaluate for OSA, not to mention to additional provoke specialist referrals or to bear a sleep examine.
Noting growing charges of weight problems in Australia and an getting older inhabitants, Professor Heraganahally defined among the present screening instruments—such because the STOP-Bang and OSA-50—had “significant age and gender bias” and that OSA was turning into extra prevalent in in danger youthful people and grownup girls of all ages.
“Some of the existing screening tools were developed and validated predominately to include patients over 50 years and males and new referral guidelines for PSG should be considered,” he mentioned.
Extra info:
Timothy Howarth et al, Normal Apply Sleep Scale – The “GPSS” – A proposed new device to be used in Normal Apply for danger evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Sleep Drugs (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.11.022
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New device enhances obstructive sleep apnea detection accuracy (2025, March 12)
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