Physicians should screen all patients they suspect may have symptoms of sleep apnea. This can be completed by the patient before they are examined by a physician. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a simple questionnaire and the gold standard used by sleep physicians to determine whether patients should be tested for OSA.
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale
0 = no chance of dozing
1 = slight chance of dozing
2 = moderate chance of dozing
3 - high chance of dozing
Sitting and Reading
__________
Watching TV
__________
Sitting inactive in a public place (e.g. a theater or a meeting)
__________
As a passenger in a car for an hour without a break
__________
Lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit
__________
Sitting and talking to someone
__________
Sitting quietly after a lunch without alcohol
__________
In a car, while stopped for a few minutes in traffic
__________
__________
0-9 points represents scores of the average population
10-24 represents a moderate to high likelihood of OSA
[Johns MW (1991). "A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth sleepiness scale". Sleep 14 (6): 540–5. PMID 1798888]
