Utilization of Overnight Pulse Oximetry in Fibromyalgia Patients.

To assess whether the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire and the Snoring, Tired, Observed, Pressure, Body mass, Age, Neck, and Gender questionnaire (STOP-BANG) might be suitable replacements for an overnight sleep pulse oximetry as screening tools for sleep disordered breathing in patients with fibromyalgia.

Participants

From June 8, 2018 through July 25, 2018, adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia (via the 1990 and/or 2010 American College of Rheumatology Fibromyalgia Classification Criteria) who attended Mayo Clinic's Fibromyalgia Treatment Program were invited to participate in the study.

Methods

The design was a prospective comparative study with a retrospective chart review component. Participants completed 2 validated surveys: the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire and the STOP-BANG. Medical records were reviewed for demographic information and overnight pulse oximetry test results.

Results

Results from both questionnaires indicate that there is an association between sleep apnea risk category (defined by questionnaire) and oximetry results. Fisher's exact test for STOP-BANG and Berlin Sleep Questionnaire are statistically significant (P < .001), indicating that participants at high risk for sleep apnea (based on the questionnaires) had a greater prevalence of abnormal oximetry results than those at low risk for sleep apnea. Participants who were classified as high risk (85.7%) or intermediate risk (61.5%) on the STOP-BANG questionnaire for sleep apnea had abnormal oximetry results. Participants who scored as high risk (85.7%) for sleep apnea on the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire had abnormal oximetry results.

Conclusions

In patients with fibromyalgia, the Berlin Sleep Questionnaire and the STOP-BANG questionnaires could be beneficial in determining the probability of obstructive sleep apnea and the subsequent need for pulse oximetry testing, in higher risk patients.