Popular weight-loss drug could change how doctors treat sleep apnea

One in eight people worldwide does not get an uninterrupted night's sleep because of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This sleep disorder causes people to wake up suddenly when a blockage or narrowing in the upper airway prevents air from flowing properly through the windpipe. These repeated interruptions can leave a person exhausted, even after what's technically a full night's sleep. Obesity is a contributing factor to this sleep disorder, so researchers reviewed existing literature to see how GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, a class of weight-loss and diabetes drugs, can be used to treat OSA.

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