Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Hospitalized Transient Ischemic Attack Stroke Patients Using the STOP-Bang Questionnaire

Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk as measured by the STOP-Bang Questionnaire among hospitalized adults diagnosed with transient ischemic attack or stroke. Although OSA is considered an independent risk factor for both, patients are not routinely screened for this particular sleep disorder. Three hundred patients admitted to a large midwestern medical center completed the STOP-Bang Questionnaire. Findings showed a significant percentage of OSA risk in the transient ischemic attack/stroke population. OSA screening is a proactive approach toward the treatment of cerebrovascular disease.