A diabetes & weight loss drug has been shown to help obese people who have sleep apnea The finding could be good news for people who don't like wearing a CPAP mask to bed Researchers hailed the finding as a milestone in treatment of both sleep apnea and obesity FRIDAY, June 21, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A medication used to manage type 2 diabetes has been found effective in treating sleep apnea. The worldwide clinical trial demonstrates that significantly lowers breathing interruptions during sleep, a key indicator of the severity of a patient's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Tirzepatide is one of the class of blockbuster GLP-1 medicines, sold as Mounjaro to fight diabetes and as Zepbound to help with weight loss.
"This study marks a significant milestone in the treatment of OSA, offering a promising new therapeutic option that addresses both respiratory and metabolic complications," said study leader , director of sleep medicine at UC San Diego Health. OSA is characterized by repeated episodes of irregular breathing during sleep due to total or partial blockage of the upper airway. It can result in reduced oxygen levels in the blood and has been linked to an increased risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and other heart-related complications.
More than 900 million people worldwide are believed to have OSA, and the 469 participants in this study were recruited from the United States and eight other countries. All were clinically obese and had moderate-to-severe . Some u.
