Sleep Breath. 2025 Oct 11;29(6):313. doi: 10.1007/s11325-025-03478-x.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a respiratory disorder characterized by recurrent pauses in breathing during sleep and is responsible for serious cardiovascular and metabolic complications. Although its prevalence has been rising in parallel with the increasing obesity rates among young people, OSAS remains markedly underdiagnosed. In Vietnam, OSAS was only formally recognized and diagnosed within the past ten years, and it was introduced into the undergraduate curriculum at Hanoi Medical University just two years ago; consequently, both clinical awareness and attitudes toward this condition are still limited.
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the proportion of students at Hanoi Medical University (HMU) who are at risk of OSAS and to analyze the clinical characteristics of those identified as high-risk.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 135 HMU students between June 15 and September 15, 2024. We assessed OSAS risk using three versions of the STOP-BANG questionnaire (original, Asian, and Vietnamese-adapted “VietSBQ”), with body mass index (BMI) thresholds modified for the local population.
RESULTS: According to the original STOP-BANG scale, 8.1% of students were classified as having an intermediate-to-high risk of OSAS, whereas the VietSBQ identified 17.0% as high-risk. The prevalence of obesity differed significantly between high-risk groups: 9.1% by the original scale versus 65.2% by VietSBQ (p < 0.005). Among students at high risk, the predominant factors were male sex (95.7%), excessive daytime sleepiness (73.9%), and BMI > 25 kg/m² (65.2%).
CONCLUSION: The Vietnamese-adapted STOP-BANG questionnaire enhances the detection of OSAS risk in Vietnamese young adults. Given the recent introduction of OSAS into both clinical practice and medical education in Vietnam, particular attention should be paid to male students, those reporting daytime somnolence alongside snoring or witnessed apneas, and individuals with elevated BMI to facilitate early identification and intervention.
PMID:41075033 | DOI:10.1007/s11325-025-03478-x
