GLP-1s have been making headlines in recent years thanks to their effectiveness as weight loss treatment, but a recent study suggests that one such drug — liraglutide — could help reduce obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with COPD and obesity.
The paper, “Exploratory Analysis of Liraglutide on Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Health-Related Quality of Life in Individuals With Obesity and COPD: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial,” was published in Clinical Obesity.
In a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 40 participants classified as overweight or obese and having COPD from two outpatient clinics were randomized to receive liraglutide or placebo for 40 weeks. Researchers conducted cardiovascular monitoring, the SF-36v2 Health Survey and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaires at baseline and at the end of treatment.
OSA was diagnosed in 84% of the participants (70% of the liraglutide group and 85% of the placebo group). Compared to placebo, the researchers found that liraglutide significantly reduced OSA severity and significant improvements were observed in the SF-36v2 surveys in the categories of general health perception and role physical (which measures how physical health limitations restrict work or daily activities).
While ESS scores were not significantly changed, the researchers wrote that “a weight loss intervention with GLP-1 RA (liraglutide) reduces OSA severity and increases some domains of health-related quality of life in people with overweight or obesity, OSA and COPD.”
The researchers concluded that the study suggests liraglutide may be an appropriate additional treatment option in people diagnosed as overweight or obese who also have COPD and OSA.
