What is the STOP-Bang questionnaire? How the score works
4 min read · Reviewed 2026-10-06
Short answer
STOP-Bang is an eight-question yes/no screening for obstructive sleep apnea risk. Each 'yes' scores one point for a total of 0 to 8: 0–2 is commonly grouped as low risk, 3–4 as intermediate and 5–8 as high. It estimates risk only — it does not diagnose sleep apnea or measure severity.
What the letters stand for
- S — Snoring loudly
- T — Tired, fatigued or sleepy during the day
- O — Observed: someone has seen you stop breathing or choke during sleep
- P — Pressure: high blood pressure, treated or not
- B — BMI over 35
- A — Age over 50
- N — Neck circumference over 40 cm (about 15.7 inches)
- G — Gender: male
How the score is grouped
- 0–2: Low risk
- 3–4: Intermediate risk
- 5–8: High risk
What it can and can't do
STOP-Bang was developed to quickly identify people who may benefit from a sleep study. It cannot rule sleep apnea in or out, and it cannot say whether sleep apnea is mild, moderate or severe — only a sleep study can do that.
Taking it with Help Me Sleep
Our screening asks the STOP-Bang questions step by step, can estimate your neck size from the optional facial scan (you can always type your own measurement), and gives you a report you can share with a clinician.
Sources
- Chung F, et al., Anesthesiology — STOP questionnaire: a tool to screen patients for obstructive sleep apnea (2008)
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine — Obstructive sleep apnea — sleepeducation.org
This article is general education, not medical advice. Talk with a clinician about your situation.