Tirzepatide for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity
Malhotra A, Grunstein RR, Fietze I, et al. (2024). New England Journal of Medicine.
Summary
Two phase 3 trials testing whether tirzepatide helps obstructive sleep apnoea in people with obesity, one in participants not on positive airway pressure therapy and one in those already using it. The main measure was change in the apnoea-hypopnoea index, the number of breathing interruptions per hour of sleep. Secondary measures covered the percentage change in that index and in body weight, along with oxygen burden, patient-reported sleep disturbance and an inflammation marker. This is the evidence behind the sleep apnoea indication now on the US label.