Key result
HF providers prefer the Epworth Sleepiness Scale for sleep apnea screening due to ease and sensitivity.
Why the study?
Sleep disordered breathing affects over half of heart failure patients and its treatment reduces morbidity, mortality, and costs, but routine screening protocols are needed to identify patients.
Which sleep disordered breathing screening tool is preferred by providers in an urban heart failure clinic?
Which sleep disordered breathing screening tool is preferred by providers in an urban heart failure clinic?
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was identified as the preferred tool for screening sleep disordered breathing in a heart failure clinic due to its ease of use and patient-friendly format.
May inform local HF clinic screening choices; leaves open validation against objective measures in broader settings.
Background: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) occurs in over half of the estimated 5.1 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with heart failure (HF). Evidence shows that treatment of SDB in this population decreases not only morbidity and mortality rates, but the overall cost burden of the disease as well. The routine use of a sleep apnea screening protocol in the HF population can help identify patients in need of treatment. Methods: A project was conducted at an urban community heart failure clinic to evaluate provider preference of three evidence-based screening tools to be included in the implementation of a comprehensive SDB screening protocol. This project’s long-term goal was to design and implement a SDB protocol for heart failure patients treated at an urban heart failure clinic using the Health Belief Model. Results: Providers chose the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) as the screening questionnaire to be used in the final screening protocol. Conclusion: Ease of use, sensitivity within patient population, and patient-friendly format were cited as the deciding factors for provider choice of the ESS as the preferred screening tool.
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Loreen Williams (2024) studied Heart Failure and Sleep Disordered Breathing. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) vs. Two other evidence-based screening tools was evaluated on Provider preference of screening tools. Providers at an urban heart failure clinic selected the Epworth Sleepiness Scale as the preferred sleep apnea screening tool over two other options due to its ease of use and sensitivity.
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