Introduction: STOP-BANG questionnaire is a validated tool that is widely used in English speaking countries to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before surgery. The aim of the study is to develop an Arabic version of the simple-to-use 8-point questionnaire (A-STOP-BANG) in Arabic-speaking countries. Methods: A-STOP-BANG was created according to the recommendations of the ISPOR Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation by forward translation, backward translation, harmonization and testing in bilingual individuals. It was distributed to a group of 196 bilingual individuals from different backgrounds that are luent in English and Arabic. Results: Of the 196 bilingual individuals, 158 individuals (81%) answered all of the items on the questionnaire. Only these subjects were included in the analysis. In total, there were 66 males (42%) and 92 females (58%). Of the 158 respondents who completed the survey, 97 (61%) were of Egyptian background, 14 (9%) of Palestinian background, 9 (6%) of Libyan background, 9 (6%) of other backgrounds, 3 (2%) of Algerian background, 3 (2%) of Jordanian background, 1% of Syrian, Iraqi or Yemeni background , and < 1% of UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, or Bahrain background. The mean STOP-BANG score was 1.79 in the English version and 1.73 in the translated Arabic version (p=0.63). The A-STOP-BANG and the English questionnaire were highly correlated (r=.912, p<.0001). Conclusion: Although there are language, dialect and cultural differences, our study validates the translated A-STOP-BANG questionnaire as a simple and useful tool to be used in Arabic-speaking countries. Further studies need to be conducted in order to evaluate the validity of ASTOP- BANG questionnaire to screen for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) before surgery.

El-Gendy A, El-Gendy A, Elhennawy H, Hamdan A. Validation of the Arabic version of the stop-bang. Sleep. 2012;35:A156.

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