Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in patients with unhealthy weights in primary care
Date
2024
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Background: Worldwide, the incidence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is increasing as the prevalence of unhealthy weights defined as a BMI > 25 kg/m2 is increasing. There is a known link between OSA and unhealthy weights that should be of concern to primary care providers. Adverse conditions related to OSA include cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, premature death, abnormal immune function, disruption of normal hormonal regulation, and depression (Primack, 2021). The purpose of this translation project is to identify patients with unhealthy weights at risk for having undiagnosed OSA in a primary care practice using a modified STOPBANG questionnaire. ☐ Methods: All patients aged 18 years and over with BMI > 25 kg/m2 seen in a single primary care clinic were screened for OSA in a 3-month period. Three hundred twenty-four patients presented with a BMI > 25 kg/m2, 177 STOPBANG Questionnaires were completed. Descriptive analysis was performed to identify patients at an intermediate to high risk of having OSA. ☐ Results/Findings: Of the 177 patients that completed the STOPBANG Questionnaire, about 50% reported no snoring or observed apnea. Forty-four percent of the patients scored 3 or 4 (intermediate risk of OSA) and 34% of the patients scored 5-8 (high risk of OSA). The patient population was 48% Haitian Creole, 34% African American, and 18% Caucasian. Forty-two percent of the patients were over 50 years of age and 35% were males. ☐ Conclusion: Not all patients with unhealthy weights and STOPBANG scores of 3 or greater report snoring or observed apnea while sleeping. Patients with OSA are at risk for other health conditions and society is at risk of people with OSA having occupational or vehicular accidents. Patients with OSA commonly also report daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and hey have hypertension. Primary care providers need to be aware of the symptoms and consequences of OSA to properly identify patients at risk of OSA. Once identified, behavioral tactics can be used to treat the patient with OSA even if the patient does not have the resources for further evaluation. ☐ Keywords: Obstructive Sleep Apnea; unhealthy weight; STOPBANG; weight loss
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Keywords
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Unhealthy weight, Weight loss, Vehicular accidents, Behavioral tactics