Abstract
|Purpose:|The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a standard obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening tool, known as the STOP-Bang questionnaire, among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a primary care setting.|Background:|OSA directly impairs carbohydrate metabolism and T2DM is a risk factor for OSA. There are no standardized OSA screening tools used in the primary care setting. Many patients with T2DM are not aware of OSA and remain undiagnosed.|Sample/Setting:|The project was implemented at a primary care clinic. Patients aged 19-year-old and older, who are diagnosed with T2DM and presented to the clinic for annual physicals, T2DM follow-ups or complaints of OSA-related symptoms were included. Those excluded were 18-year-old and younger, not diagnosed with T2DM, previously diagnosed with OSA, previously completed a polysomnography within the past year, or presented only for an acute care visit.|Methods:|Patients who fit the inclusion criteria was screened using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Based on the results from the questionnaire, intervention was decided by the provider, which included no intervention, education, or referral.|Results:|A total of 18 patients were screened for OSA using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Of those screened, 44% screened for low-risk for OSA, 44% screened for high-risk for OSA, and 12% screened for intermediate-risk for OSA. Of the 8 patients who screened high-risk for OSA, only one patient agreed to get a referral for a sleep study, and result indicated that the patient was negative for OSA.|Conclusion:|Implementation of a screening tool could improve patient outcomes and reduce the health care burden of untreated OSA. With adequate screening and subsequent identification and treatment of patients with OSA, primary care providers can pave the way in reducing mortality and morbidity associated with OSA.