INTRODUCTION

Sleep Apnea is a sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

These interruptions, called apneas, can last from a few seconds to a minute and occur multiple

times per hour, disrupting sleep and affecting health.

The most common type is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It occurs because the

muscles in the throat relax too much during sleep, blocking the airway. This blockage stops the

person from breathing for a moment until their brain wakes them up to start breathing again.

Often, this causes snorting, choking, or gasping sounds.



It is really important to find out if someone has OSA and treat it. If not treated, OSA can lead to

serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and trouble

thinking clearly.

Researchers from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, along with

international collaborators, have discovered that Tirzepatide, a drug used for type 2 diabetes,

can effectively treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).




STUDY CONDUCTED

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study included 469 obese

participants with moderate-to-severe OSA from nine countries. Over 52 weeks, those given

tirzepatide experienced fewer breathing interruptions during sleep compared to those on a

placebo. Some even improved enough to potentially stop using CPAP therapy, the common

OSA treatment.

The drug also helped reduce cardiovascular risk factors and improved body weight, with

the most common side effect being mild stomach issues.

Researchers hailed this breakthrough as a new standard of care, offering hope to countless

individuals and their families struggling with current OSA treatments.


CONCLUSION 

Based on this study, the next step should be conducting clinical trials to check tirzepatide's long-

term effects. This will help us understand if there are any side effects that could be harmful to

the patients.