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Screening commercial drivers for obstructive sleep apnea: translation and validation of Serbian version of Berlin Questionnaire

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Abstract

Purpose

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to severe health consequences. Drivers of motor vehicles with untreated or undiagnosed OSA have a greater risk of traffic accidents. Use of self-reported questionnaires is the first step in OSA diagnosis. The main aim of this study was to perform the translation and validation of Berlin Questionnaire in a sample of commercial drivers.

Methods

After formal translation, validation was performed on a sample of commercial drivers and included evaluation of internal consistency, test–retest reliability, construct and criterion validity. Full-night attended polysomnography or cardiorespiratory polygraphy was used for OSA diagnosis.

Results

One hundred male participants, 24–62 years old, were included. Berlin Questionnaire classified 35 % subjects as potential OSA patients. Polysomnography confirmed OSA in 58 % of the subjects. Berlin Questionnaire showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.82—first category, 0.73–0.95—second category). Test–retest reliability (Cohen’s kappa 0.78) was adequate. Berlin score was significantly correlated with OSA category and apnea–hypopnea index (AHI). Sensitivity of Berlin Questionnaire was from 50.9 (AHI ≥ 5) to 75 % (AHI ≥ 30), while specificity ranged from 86 to 70.5 %.

Conclusions

Berlin Questionnaire (Serbian version) showed good measurement properties, creating basis for further research of its usefulness as OSA screening tool in populations of interest.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia through the project ON 175081 (2011-2014).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotića 8, Belgrade, Serbia

    Martin B. Popević, Anđela Milovanović, Ljudmila Nagorni-Obradović, Jovica Milovanović & Aleksandar P. S. Milovanović

  2. Department for Occupational Physiology and Hygiene, Serbian Institute of Occupational Health, Deligradska 29, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

    Martin B. Popević

  3. Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

    Anđela Milovanović

  4. Clinic for Pulmonology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

    Ljudmila Nagorni-Obradović

  5. Institute of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Višegradska st. 26/II, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia

    Dejan Nešić

  6. Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Pasterova 2, Belgrade, Serbia

    Jovica Milovanović

  7. Department for Diagnostics and Treatment of Occupational and Work Related Diseases, Serbian Institute of Occupational Health, Deligradska 29, Belgrade, Serbia

    Aleksandar P. S. Milovanović

Authors
  1. Martin B. Popević
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  2. Anđela Milovanović
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  3. Ljudmila Nagorni-Obradović
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  6. Aleksandar P. S. Milovanović
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin B. Popević.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Ethical statements

This study received ethical approval from the Ethical board of Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia. The study was performed according to ethical standards of the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Appendix: Berlinski upitnik

Appendix: Berlinski upitnik

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  • Starost: _____ godina

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Molimo Vas da izaberete tačan odgovor zaokruživanjem.

Kategorija 1

  1. 1.

    Da li hrčete?

    1. a.

      Da

    2. b.

      Ne

    3. c.

      Ne znam

    Ukoliko hrčete:

  2. 2.

    Vaše hrkanje je:

    1. a.

      Malo glasnije od disanja

    2. b.

      Jednako glasno kao govor

    3. c.

      Glasnije od govora

    4. d.

      Veoma glasno—može se čuti u susednoj sobi.

  3. 3.

    Koliko često hrčete?

    1. a.

      Skoro svakog dana

    2. b.

      3–4 puta nedeljno

    3. c.

      1–2 puta nedeljno

    4. d.

      1–2 puta mesečno

    5. e.

      Nikad ili skoro nikad

  4. 4.

    Da li je Vaše hrkanje ikada smetalo ostalima?

    1. a.

      Da

    2. b.

      Ne

    3. c.

      Ne znam

  5. 5.

    Da li je iko primetio da ste prestali da dišete tokom sna?

    1. a.

      Skoro svaki dan

    2. b.

      3–4 puta nedeljno

    3. c.

      1–2 puta nedeljno

    4. d.

      1–2 puta mesečno

    5. e.

      Nikad ili skoro nikad

    Kategorija 2

  6. 6.

    Koliko često se osećate umorno ili neodmoreno posle spavanja?

    1. a.

      Skoro svaki dan

    2. b.

      3–4 nedeljno

    3. c.

      1–2 nedeljno

    4. d.

      1–2 puta mesečno

    5. e.

      Nikad ili skoro nikad

  7. 7.

    Da li se prilikom buđenja osećate umorno, neodmoreno ili ste nespremni da ustanete?

    1. a.

      Skoro svaki dan

    2. b.

      3–4 nedeljno

    3. c.

      1–2 nedeljno

    4. d.

      1–2 puta mesečno

    5. e.

      Nikad ili skoro nikad

  8. 8.

    Da li ste ikada zadremali ili zaspali za volanom?

    1. a.

      Da

    2. b.

      Ne

    Ako je odgovor na prethodno pitanje Da:

  9. 9.

    Koliko često se ovo dešava?

    1. a.

      Skoro svaki dan

    2. b.

      3–4 nedeljno

    3. c.

      1–2 nedeljno

    4. d.

      1–2 puta mesečno

    5. e.

      Nikad ili skoro nikad

    Kategorija 3

  10. 10.

    Da li imate visok krvni pritisak?

    1. a.

      Da

    2. b.

      Ne

    3. c.

      Ne znam

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Popević, M.B., Milovanović, A., Nagorni-Obradović, L. et al. Screening commercial drivers for obstructive sleep apnea: translation and validation of Serbian version of Berlin Questionnaire. Qual Life Res 25, 343–349 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-1087-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-015-1087-3

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