Validation study of REM sleep behavior disorder questionnaire-Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK) in east China

Abstract

Objective: To validate the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) Questionnaire-Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK) in polysomnography (PSG)-confirmed RBD and non-RBD subjects, and to evaluate its usefulness in different clinical populations.

Methods: In total, 325 subjects (115 RBD and 210 controls) from East China were enrolled. After patients had finished the structured interview, and completed the RBDQ-HK and video-PSG test, we evaluated the reliability of RBDQ-HK (areas under the curves (AUC), the best cut-off values, factor 2 of RBDQ-HK, and overall scale) and validated the usefulness of RBDQ-HK between the Parkinson disease (PD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) groups.

Results: The best cut-off values for factor 2 of RBDQ-HK were located at 7/8 with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 82% (AUC=0.911), and for RBDQ-HK overall scale were located at 17 with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 81% (AUC=0.892) in all subjects. Both factor 2 and overall scale of RBDQ-HK are valid in all subjects (PD and OSA patients), with a higher accuracy given by factor 2 of RBDQ-HK.

Conclusions: RBDQ-HK and its factor 2 are useful and validated RBD screening instruments, and could be used as a tool for screening RBD in patients with PD and OSA.

Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Parkinson disease; REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Questionnaire – Hong Kong (RBDQ-HK); REM sleep behavior disorder; Reliability; Validity.