ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The current study aims to assess the efficacy of the Stop-Bang Questionnaire (SBQ) in screening treatment-required sleep apnoea following Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Additionally, we explore the performance of combined questionnaires and pulse oximetry to determine the most cost-effective method. METHODS: The study employs a cross-sectional observational design. All patients admitted to in-hospital rehabilitation at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark from September 2022 to February 2023 were continuously enrolled. Participating patients underwent SBQ screening, a standard sleep questionnaire, and cardiorespiratory monitoring, followed by an individual consultation with a physician. RESULTS: During the study period, 35 SCI patients were admitted, with 24 providing informed consent. Among the 24 included patients, there was a 75% prevalence of mild to severe sleep apnoea, and 46% had treatment-required sleep apnoea. The SBQ missed only one patient with treatment-required sleep apnoea but misclassified eight patients. Combining SBQ with the pulse oximetry demonstrated the best performance in identifying patients with sleep apnoea. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that SBQ alone is insufficient for screening treatment-required sleep apnoea. Exploratory analysis suggests that combining SBQ with a simple pulse oximetry measurement might enhance accuracy.