Current opinion in pulmonary medicineAug 26, 2025

Using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor drugs to treat obstructive sleep apnea

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 2, 2026

Abstract

GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists may reduce the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and body weight in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses indicate significant reductions in AHI with incretin therapies.
Treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists may lead to decreased systemic inflammation and adiposity.
Hormonal changes and delayed gastric emptying associated with GLP-1RA could influence appetite regulation.
Incretin therapies have been shown to be effective both alone and in conjunction with traditional positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.
Longitudinal studies are needed to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of these treatments.

Simplified

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights the emerging data on the use of incretin therapies, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and dual GLP-1RA and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) receptor agonists, on the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Given known cardiometabolic and neurocognitive consequences of OSA, optimizing treatment is essential. In the setting of widespread research efforts and clinical implementation of dual agonists in managing OSA, obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases, this review is timely.

RECENT FINDINGS: Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have shown GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists to reduce apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and body weight in patients with OSA. This impact has been demonstrated with the use of pharmacotherapy alone and in combination with traditional positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. GLP-1RA may positively affect OSA through reducing systemic inflammation and decreasing adiposity, including via hormone changes, delayed gastric emptying, and central mechanisms impacting appetite regulation and sleep-wakefulness.

SUMMARY: Novel pharmacological advances in individuals with OSA and obesity have shown promise in cardiometabolic disease control. Longitudinal follow-up to monitor the efficacy and adverse effects of incretin therapies, and further comparison studies with PAP therapy, are warranted.

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Competing interests

Conflicts of interest. There are no conflicts of interest for authors: Dr D’Annibale, Dr Mimoto, and Dr McCowen. Dr Malhotra is funded by NIH. He reports income from Eli Lilly, Zoll, Livanova, Powell Mansfield and Sunrise. He is co-founder of a small start up Clairyon unrelated to this topic. Resmed provided a philanthropic donation to UCSD.

PubMed

Using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor drugs to treat obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

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Funding

Competing interests

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Abstract

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