Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) isn’t just about snoring – it’s much more serious. It can cause you to stop breathing or have trouble breathing while you sleep, which leads to sleepless nights and feeling groggy during the day. It can also raise the risk of heart problems, and strokes.
One of the main factors behind OSA is obesity, and about 70% of people with OSA are also dealing with weight issues. To help, many people turn to a CPAP machine, which, as the NHS explains, gently pumps air into a mask that you wear over your mouth or nose while you sleep, making it easier to breathe.
But here’s the good news: recent clinical trials are offering a ray of hope. Let’s explore more in this blog.
Findings from the SURMOUNT-OSA phase 3 clinical trials provide encouraging news for adults suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity. Eli Lilly and Company announced that tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro, an injectable treatment that starts at 2.5mg and increases to 15mg, significantly reduced the severity of OSA by nearly two-thirds in adults compared to a placebo treatment. These findings highlight the potential of tirzepatide to address a major health issue that affects millions of people worldwide.
Tirzepatide Brings Big Relief with a Major Drop in Sleep Apnea Severity
Recent clinical trials have revealed some exciting news for people dealing with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Tirzepatide has shown a dramatic reduction in the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), the measure that tracks how often breathing is restricted or completely blocked during sleep. This is a key marker for the severity of OSA and the effectiveness of treatments. Lowering the AHI is crucial for managing sleep apnea, and in these studies, the percentage change in AHI was a major secondary endpoint.
How Tirzepatide Transforms Health Beyond Shedding Pounds
Tirzepatide Marketed as Zepbound in the U.S. and Mounjaro in the U.K., tirzepatide’s dual-action mechanism has already shown effectiveness in helping patients manage their weight, which is closely linked to the severity of OSA.
Tirzepatide is not just acting as a weight management drug. Currently, it’s the only approved therapy that targets both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. This unique dual-action mechanism is what sets tirzepatide apart from other weight loss treatments. Known as Zepbound in the U.S. and Mounjaro in the U.K., it has already proven to be highly effective in helping patients lose weight, which is closely tied to reducing the severity of OSA.
Obesity and OSA
Obesity is a well-known risk factor for developing OSA. According to the NHS in the U.K., a higher BMI significantly increases the likelihood of an individual developing OSA. The SURMOUNT-OSA trials highlight how reducing BMI through effective weight management can substantially lower the risk and severity of OSA. This correlation underscores the importance of addressing obesity not only from an overall health perspective but also as a targeted approach to reduce the incidence and severity of sleep apnea.
Curious to Know What the Study Reveals?
The SURMOUNT-OSA Study 1 looked at adults with moderate-to-severe OSA and obesity who were not using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. Over 52 weeks, patients taking tirzepatide saw their AHI drop by an average of 27.4 events per hour, compared to 4.8 events per hour for those on placebo. Tirzepatide also led to a 55.0% reduction in AHI and 18.1% body weight loss, while placebo only showed a 5.0% AHI reduction and 1.3% weight loss.
In SURMOUNT-OSA Study 2, which focused on patients using PAP therapy, tirzepatide brought an impressive reduction in AHI from 30.4 events per hour to just 6.0 events per hour with placebo. The drug reduced AHI by 62.8% and body weight by 20.1%, compared to 6.4% and 2.3% with placebo.
One of the most notable findings was that tirzepatide’s weight loss effects were almost 20%, even in a group that was 70% male. This is especially significant since men typically see less weight loss with incretin therapies than women. This result further supports tirzepatide as a powerful option for managing conditions like OSA that are closely tied to obesity.
Could Tirzepatide Be the First to Truly Target OSA?
Dr Jeff Emmick, senior vice president at Lilly, stressed the importance of targeting the root cause of OSA, obesity, rather than just managing the symptoms. While most current treatments focus on alleviating symptoms, tirzepatide could become the first to truly tackle the underlying condition, offering a comprehensive solution for those affected by OSA.
The drug’s safety profile was consistent with previous trials, with the most common side effects being mild-to-moderate gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. These side effects were reported across both studies.
The findings from the SURMOUNT-OSA trials will be shared at the upcoming American Diabetes Association’s 84th Scientific Sessions, and Lilly plans to submit the data for global regulatory review. If approved, tirzepatide could become a groundbreaking therapy for millions of adults suffering from both OSA and obesity. This dual-action medication offers a new way to manage not just the symptoms of sleep apnea but also the root cause, obesity, bringing hope for a more effective and comprehensive treatment for this widespread condition.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38547961/