A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that tirzepatide significantly reduced the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), body weight, concentration of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), hypoxic burden, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study, which included two phase III trials, aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tirzepatide in treating adults with OSA and obesity. The trials were conducted across 60 sites in nine countries and included participants not able or willing to use PAP therapy. The primary endpoint was the alteration in AHI from baseline. 

The trials showed a high completion rate (82.9%) and high overall adherence (79.7%). Estimand analysis showed that tirzepatide treatment significantly reduced the AHI compared to the placebo in both trials. Participants on tirzepatide showed improvements in sleep apnea-specific hypoxic burden, and more than 50% achieved clinically meaningful reductions in AHI. Participants who received tirzepatide in both trials experienced significant reductions in PROMIS-SRI and PROMIS-SD T scores as well as body weight, systolic blood pressure, and hsCRP concentration. 

In conclusion, tirzepatide was found to bring about a clinically significant improvement in sleep-disordered breathing, sleep disturbance, and sleep-related impairment while reducing OSA-related cardiovascular risk factors. These results highlight tirzepatide’s potential as a treatment option for improving sleep-related outcomes in this population.