- Sleep
- Pulmonology
- General medicine
Berlin score
Screening for sleep apnea
The Berlin Questionnaire identifies a risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in adults. Developed particularly for primary care, it combines nocturnal symptoms, daytime sleepiness, and risk factors. Its assessment is based on three categories, not simply on the sum of positive responses.
- Number of questions
- 11 questions
- Approximate duration
- 2 to 3 minutes
- Population
- Adults
- Modality
- Self-administered questionnaire with clinical data
QuestionnaireBerlin
SELF-QUESTIONNAIRE
The three categories cover nocturnal respiratory symptoms, daytime fatigue or sleepiness, and hypertension or obesity. The screening tool first determines whether each category is positive. Weight and height measurements may be required to calculate BMI.
Are you patient?
You can fill in the details you know. Please indicate any questions you cannot answer, and the professional will be able to go over them with you.
Question 1 / 11
Do you snore?
Terms of contract
Before interpreting the classification, check the uncertainties regarding nighttime observations. The absence of a sleep witness must not be arbitrarily turned into an absence of symptoms.
Score interpretationBerlin
The Berlin Questionnaire is based on three categories, evaluated separately. Category 1 — Snoring and witnessed apneas: category is positive with 2 or more points. Answers regarding the presence of snoring, its loudness, frequency, and whether it bothers others can each score 1 point. Breathing pauses witnessed frequently, at least 3 to 4 nights a week, score 2 points. Category 2 — Daytime fatigue and sleepiness: category is positive with 2 or more points. Frequent fatigue after sleeping and during the day, as well as nodding off while driving and its frequency, are assessed according to the specific criteria of each question. Category 3 — High blood pressure or obesity: category is positive if high blood pressure is present or if BMI is over 30 kg/m². The final score depends on the number of positive categories, not the sum of all individual items.
Total score
First reading
0 to 1
0 or 1 positive category: low risk according to the questionnaire.
2 to 3
2 or 3 positive categories: high risk of OSA.
A high risk of OSA is identified if at least two of the three categories are positive. Only one positive category, or none, corresponds to a low risk according to this scale. A low risk does not formally rule out OSA.
A high-risk result requires clinical perspective. It does not confirm the disease and does not correspond to a direct estimate of the number of apneas per hour. A low classification is not sufficient to rule out OSA when the clinical picture remains suggestive.
Frequently asked questions
Sources and references
Nikolaus C. Netzer and collaborators
Initial validation: Annals of Internal Medicine, 1999.
Questionnaires and associated scores
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