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| Does Someone Have Sleep Apnea? The Best Place to Start (SleepGuy) (Sleep Apnea Awareness) |
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Do You Have Sleep Apnea? The Best Place to Start!
25 Percent of All Adults in the USA Are at "High Risk" for Sleep Apnea!
The most recent statistical information (from 2005) shows that one third of all men, and one fifth of all women in the United States are at "high risk" for having sleep apnea (89% positive predicitive value). Here's a link to the latest research on the prevalence of sleep apnea in the USA: http://www.chestjournal.org/
These statistics are substantially higher than any previous estimate, which put the total number of sleep apnea victims in the USA at between 5 to 10%. An aging population, increasing obesity rates, and better statistical assessments have been cited for the astonishingly high numbers.
The Amazingly Simply Berlin Questionnaire
The statistical analysis was based on the Berlin Questionnaire (click here for a link: http://www.ssc.ca/documents/case_studies/2006/documents/sleep_BQ_e.pdf)
The Berlin questionnaire consists of ten simple questions on one page. It is easily scored by any lay person (just follow the instructions--you can easily score it yourself).
This simple questionnaire has been proven to be highly predictive of people who are at high risk for OSA (it has a verified positive predictive value of 89% for people scoring at “high risk” from the questionnaire).
If you or a friend, co-worker, or family member suspects they may be suffering from a sleep disorder, the best place to start may be the Berlin Questionnaire. If the individual scores high, they should simply be able to take it to their doctor and go from there. Note that not all doctors are very familiar with sleep apnea, so feel free to obtain a second opinion from a specialist if you're not satisfied with your medical care. A high score on the Berlin Questionnaire should raise enough issues for any prudent doctor to take you seriously and order further testing. |
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