**Weight-Loss Drugs Like Ozempic and Zepbound May Reduce Health Risks Linked to Sleep Apnea, Study Finds**
Weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound might offer protection against health risks related to sleep apnea, according to new research presented at the American College of Chest Physicians meeting in Chicago.
The study focused on patients with type 2 diabetes who were taking GLP-1 drugs. Researchers found that these patients were overall less likely to die within the next year. Notably, those who also had sleep apnea showed even greater benefits.
“We observed one-year mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) to be substantially lower than patients not prescribed GLP-1RAs, with a disproportionate benefit observed in those also diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea,” said lead researcher Dr. Cosmo Fowler, a sleep medicine physician at Piedmont Health System in Atlanta.
### FDA Approval of Zepbound for Sleep Apnea
These findings support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision in December 2024 to approve Zepbound (tirzepetide) as the first drug to treat sleep apnea in adults with obesity.
### What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when a person’s upper airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing pauses in breathing that frequently wake them. This leads to poor quality sleep night after night.
Sleep apnea is more common in people who are overweight or have obesity, as excess fatty tissue places additional pressure on the upper airways, making them prone to collapse. The Obesity Medicine Association explains that extra weight can also reduce lung capacity.
### Study Details and Key Findings
For the study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 1.8 million patients with type 2 diabetes. Approximately 28% of these patients had been prescribed a GLP-1 drug.
GLP-1 drugs mimic the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone, which regulates insulin and blood sugar levels, lowers appetite, and slows food digestion. Originally developed to treat diabetes, these drugs have since been found to aid in weight loss.
The study showed that everyone taking a GLP-1 drug had a lower short-term risk of death. However, those with sleep apnea experienced a 20% greater reduction in this risk compared to those without the disorder.
– Among people without sleep apnea, the absolute risk of death was 0.9% for those on a GLP-1 drug versus 1.8% for those not taking the medication.
– For sleep apnea patients, the risk of death was 1% for those on a GLP-1 drug compared to 2.5% for those not using it.
“This large-scale analysis suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) status may act as an effect modifier in the association between GLP-1RA prescription and mortality,” Dr. Fowler noted.
### Implications and Next Steps
Based on these results, researchers recommend that doctors consider a patient’s sleep apnea status when deciding whether to prescribe a GLP-1 drug.
However, more research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which GLP-1 drugs may benefit sleep apnea patients and to assess their potential long-term effects.
It is important to note that findings presented at medical conferences are preliminary until published in peer-reviewed journals.
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**More Information**
For additional details on excess weight and sleep apnea, visit the Obesity Medicine Association website.
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2025/10/21/GLP-1-Ozempic-Zepbound-sleep-apnea-benefits-study/6591761053550/
