Proposal for a New Questionnaire for the Early Identification of Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a very common, but underestimated, disorder. OSAS is characterized by repeated apneas during sleep due to upper airway obstruction. This condition can cause the onset of several chronic diseases, with increased mortality and morbidity. The test of choice to verify the presence of OSAS is polysomnography, a tool considered the gold standard. Not all questionnaires include the comorbidities of the patient with OSAS, which are also found in high percentages, and which can confuse the main problem of apneas. The aim of this article is to present a new questionnaire that intercepts in advance the patient with OSAS, considering different comorbidity variables. The proposed evaluation tries to make the best use of the information collected from the literature, framing the patient's clinical situation with more information. Further studies will be needed to validate the innovative approach proposed in the article.