Clinical Associate Review Only SLEEP APNEA IN THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT
Hospitalized, surgical and procedural patients are high higher risk than the general
population for sleep apnea.
o
General population – 10% risk, higher in some geographic locations
o
Hospital population – up to 8 times higher, particularly with heart failure patients
Patients at risk for sleep apnea may have obstructive apnea, central apnea or
hypoventilation.
Hospitalized patients are at
high risk for morbidity and mortality due to airway
compromise while sleeping.
Recovery periods from surgery and other procedures may be longer for patients with sleep
apnea.
Anesthesia, sedatives, hypnotics and opioid analgesics increase the risk of preventable
serious safety events in patients with sleep apnea.
Screening for Risk
Screen for sleep apnea upon admission or presentation to surgical or procedural areas.
Complete age-appropriate screening tool or risk indicators during nursing assessment.
Document screening results on the Admission History form in Cerner.
Adults Children SLEEP APNEA –
S.T.O.P. Initiate
Sleep Apnea Screening Tool Protocol for
S nores loudly
high risk when:
Excessively
T ired or fatigued
S.T.O.P. score is 2 or
when awake
higher
O bserved apnea
Previous diagnosis of
High Blood
