Anesthesiology researchers from University of Toronto have come to the aid of people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as they are at high risk for respiratory complications during and after surgery. Taking the new test, these patients will be able to know for sure if they have sleep apnea or not.

The test, called STOP test, is very simple containing just four yes/no questions and can be taken without the help of a physician. The questions are as follows: Do you snore loudly? Do you often feel tired, fatigued or sleepy during daytime? Has anyone observed you stop breathing during sleep? Do you have or are you being treated for high blood pressure?

If a patient answers “yes” to two questions, this means he/she is at high risk for sleep apnea, anesthesiologist Frances Chung, M.D. study lead author said, according to the Washington Post. “This patient may need to be monitored for oxygen saturation after surgery and may need more nursing care. Identifying patients with OSA is the first step in preventing postoperative complications. Untreated OSA patients are known to have a higher incidence of difficult intubation, postoperative complications, increased intensive care admissions and greater duration of hospital stay,” he added.

It is estimated that OSA affects anywhere from 2-26 percent of the general population. Even more alarming is that around 80 percent of men and 93 percent of women with moderate to severe sleep apnea are unaware they have this disorder.

The new test is the more helpful as hospitals and clinics don’t do routine OSA screening of surgical patients because there hasn’t been a simple, practical method that’s been proven to be effective.

"An overnight sleep study is the most reliable way to diagnose OSA, but it is too time-consuming and expensive for every patient to receive before surgery," Chung said.