How Will Tirzepatide Change Sleep Apnea Treatment? | Research

The takeaway

Tirzepatide resolved sleep apnea in about 50% of obese patients in the SURMOUNT-OSA trial, but its precise clinical role remains debated.

~50%
Of obese patients achieved resolution of obstructive sleep apnea with tirzepatide

What the researchers found

About 50% of obese patients with OSA achieved resolution of their condition with tirzepatide over 52 weeks.

Why it matters

Sleep apnea affects hundreds of millions worldwide. A drug that can resolve it in half of patients could fundamentally change treatment paradigms.

The numbers in context

- Approximately 50% of patients had OSA resolution on tirzepatide

- Treatment period: 52 weeks

- Primary endpoint: change in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)

How the study worked

Expert forum commentary on the SURMOUNT-OSA randomized controlled trial results.

Who was studied

Expert commentary on the SURMOUNT-OSA trial of obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with tirzepatide for 52 weeks.

What this study cannot tell us

Expert opinion piece; trial results from a selected population. Long-term outcomes, adherence, and cost-effectiveness unknown.

How to read the evidence

Expert commentary on a randomized controlled trial. Strong trial evidence; expert opinions on clinical role are subjective.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

Tirzepatide represents the first effective pharmacological alternative for OSA management, potentially reducing dependence on CPAP devices.

Questions still open

Will insurance cover tirzepatide for sleep apnea?
Can patients stop CPAP once weight loss is achieved?
Will the high cost worsen healthcare disparities?

Common questions

Can tirzepatide cure sleep apnea?

In the SURMOUNT-OSA trial, about 50% of obese patients achieved resolution of sleep apnea after 52 weeks. However, this required sustained treatment.

Will this replace CPAP machines?

Experts say probably not initially, as CPAP provides immediate benefit. Tirzepatide may be used alongside CPAP, with potential to stop CPAP after weight loss.

Read the original research

What will the impact be of use of tirzepatide in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

Sleep, 48(6)

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Pack, Allan; Grunstein, Ronald; Mokhlesi, Babak; Ryan, Silke; Schwab, Richard; Gozal, David. (2025). What will the impact be of use of tirzepatide in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?. Sleep, 48(6). https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaf045