PhD Scientific Days 2024

Health Sciences III.

Investigating the effectiveness of GLP-1 analogs in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) presents a significant health burden, characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep, contributing to various long-term complications. Obesity, a predominant risk factor, underscores the importance of weight management strategies in OSA treatment. Emerging pharmacotherapeutic options, notably glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists, have garnered attention for their potential in obesity management. Despite the promising results observed in preliminary studies, the efficacy of GLP-1 agonists in OSA needs further clarification.
Aim: This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze existing evidence on the efficacy of GLP-1 analogs in patients with OSA.
Methods: We conducted our systematic search in the CENTRAL, EMBASE and MEDLINE databases following the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and Cochrane handbook recommendations. The study protocol was registered with the PROSPERO database under the registration number
CRD42023481885. The primary outcome measure was the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) – the number of apnea and hypopnea episodes per hour of sleep.
Results: A comprehensive search identified 647 relevant publications, of which 5 met the inclusion criteria for analysis. These clinical trials collectively enrolled 603 patients. Liraglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, was consistently utilized across all trials, administered at daily doses ranging from 0.6 to 3 mg over treatment durations 12 to 32 weeks. Significant reductions in AHI were observed in patients treated with liraglutide compared to control groups, with a mean change in AHI of -4.35 (95% CI: -6.32 to -2.39, p=0.006).
Conclusion: In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), liraglutide, a GLP-1 agonist, demonstrates significant efficacy in reducing respiratory disturbances during sleep, suggesting its potential utility in OSA management. However, further investigations are warranted to ascertain the clinical relevance of these findings and explore the efficacy of other GLP-1 agonists in this clinical context.
Funding: None.