Obstructive sleep apnea

What is obstructive sleep apnea and how is it diagnosed?

Obstructive sleep apnea happens when the upper airway becomes blocked many times during sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow; it is the most common type of sleep apnea [1]. People with obesity can have increased fat deposits in the neck that can block the upper airway [2]. A sleep study is used to diagnose it [1], and severity is measured with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), a measurement of how many times a person stops breathing or breathes shallowly per hour during sleep [3]. Moderate OSA is an AHI of 15 to 30 events per hour, and severe OSA is an AHI of 30 or more per hour [4].

Which drug is FDA-approved for OSA?

Zepbound (tirzepatide) is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity [4]. FDA called it the first drug treatment option for certain patients with OSA, approved December 20, 2024 [3]. The approval was based on two randomized, placebo-controlled studies of 469 adults without type 2 diabetes, and FDA says the improvement in AHI is likely related to body weight reduction with Zepbound [3].