June 21st, 2024

Study identifies first drug therapy for sleep apnea

Researchers at UC San Diego found tirzepatide, a diabetes drug, promising for treating sleep apnea. The study on 469 participants worldwide showed reduced breathing interruptions, weight loss, and improved heart health. Tirzepatide may offer a new OSA treatment option.

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Study identifies first drug therapy for sleep apnea

A study led by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has identified tirzepatide, a drug used to manage type 2 diabetes, as a potential first drug therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 469 participants with obesity and moderate-to-severe OSA from nine countries. Results showed that tirzepatide significantly reduced breathing interruptions during sleep, with some participants potentially not needing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The drug also improved cardiovascular risk factors and body weight. Dr. Atul Malhotra, the lead author, highlighted the drug's potential to offer a more accessible alternative for OSA treatment, especially for individuals who struggle with existing therapies. The study suggests that combining CPAP therapy with weight loss could optimize cardiometabolic risk management. Further research will focus on examining the long-term effects of tirzepatide. Funding for the study was provided by Eli Lilly and Company, with Dr. Malhotra serving as a consultant to the company.

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Link Icon 5 comments
By @ImHereToVote - 5 months
Is this essentially a weight loss drug that helps sleep apnea? Seems like weight loss and metabolic improvement is the thing that is the actual thing that helps sleep apnea.
By @meltyness - 5 months

  Key multiplicity-controlled secondary end points included the percent change in AHI and body weight and changes in hypoxic burden, patient-reported sleep impairment and disturbance, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentration, and systolic blood pressure.
hmm... good?
By @m463 - 5 months
I was wondering how a drug could help with the mechanical process of the airway collapsing.

(honestly, I could more easily imagine an exercise pill)

By @jmcgough - 5 months
This is kind of obvious to use semiglutides for this - most OSA is caused by obesity in this country.
By @morjom - 5 months
I feel like the article title should've specified Obstructive.

Yes I know it says it right below it.