Tirzepatide Shows Promise in Reducing Sleep Apnea Severity and Weight in Obese Patients
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on November 18th, 2024
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Obstructive sleep apnea is a common condition in individuals with excess weight, often resulting from pharyngeal collapse due to adipose accumulation around the mandibular area. Tirzepatide, a dual agonist for GIP and GLP-1 receptors commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, has shown promise in aiding weight loss. Given these findings, Eli Lilly sponsored a study to evaluate tirzepatide’s potential in managing obstructive sleep apnea in individuals with obesity.
The phase 3 clinical trial involved 469 individuals diagnosed with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, experiencing an average of around 50 apnea or hypopnea events per hour of sleep at baseline. Participants were also categorized as obese, with a mean body mass index of about 39. They were randomly assigned to receive weekly subcutaneous injections of either a placebo or tirzepatide, with doses ranging from 10 to 15 mg based on tolerance. In addition, participants were advised on lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity and a daily caloric deficit of 500 calories. After 52 weeks of treatment, the researchers observed that weekly tirzepatide injections significantly reduced sleep apnea events by approximately 30 per hour, compared to a reduction of only 5 events in the placebo group. This improvement in sleep apnea was accompanied by significant weight loss of around 20% in the tirzepatide group. Tirzepatide was also found to help reduce inflammation and manage blood pressure, addressing cardiovascular complications commonly associated with obstructive sleep apnea.
The phase 3 clinical trial involved 469 individuals diagnosed with moderate-to-severe sleep apnea, experiencing an average of around 50 apnea or hypopnea events per hour of sleep at baseline. Participants were also categorized as obese, with a mean body mass index of about 39. They were randomly assigned to receive weekly subcutaneous injections of either a placebo or tirzepatide, with doses ranging from 10 to 15 mg based on tolerance. In addition, participants were advised on lifestyle changes, including increased physical activity and a daily caloric deficit of 500 calories. After 52 weeks of treatment, the researchers observed that weekly tirzepatide injections significantly reduced sleep apnea events by approximately 30 per hour, compared to a reduction of only 5 events in the placebo group. This improvement in sleep apnea was accompanied by significant weight loss of around 20% in the tirzepatide group. Tirzepatide was also found to help reduce inflammation and manage blood pressure, addressing cardiovascular complications commonly associated with obstructive sleep apnea.