Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder that can lead to serious health consequences such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, metabolic dysfunction, and impaired quality of life. Many patients remain undiagnosed due to the need for specialized testing such as polysomnography, which is costly and not always accessible. The STOP-BANG score was developed to provide a simple, practical, and validated method to identify individuals at high risk for OSA.

The acronym STOP-BANG stands for:

• Snoring

• Tiredness

• Observed apneas

• Pressure (hypertension)

• Body Mass Index > 35 kg/m²

• Age > 50 years

• Neck circumference > 40 cm

• Gender (male)

Each factor is scored as either 0 or 1. Scores range from 0 to 8. A score of 0–2 indicates low risk, 3–4 indicates intermediate risk, and ≥5 indicates high risk for OSA. Importantly, the STOP-BANG score does not diagnose OSA but helps identify patients who should undergo further evaluation, such as polysomnography or home sleep apnea testing.

It has been validated in diverse populations, including surgical, medical, and sleep clinic cohorts, making it widely applicable. Clinicians often use STOP-BANG in perioperative assessments to reduce complications related to undiagnosed OSA. By flagging at-risk patients, the score supports safer anesthesia planning, targeted treatment, and improved patient outcomes.