GLP-1 Agonists Increasingly Used by Sleep Surgery Patients, Linked to Pre-Op Weight Loss

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common respiratory condition often worsened by obesity, frequently leading patients to consider sleep surgery as a treatment option. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are a class of medications gaining widespread use for effective weight management and control of type 2 diabetes. However, the prevalence of GLP-1 RA utilization among patients seeking sleep surgery and the associated patient characteristics and potential benefits remain largely unexamined.

The study revealed that a significant 18% (90 out of 500) of patients presenting for sleep surgery were actively using a GLP-1 RA. Patients on GLP-1 RAs exhibited significantly higher baseline BMI (39.5 kg/m² vs. 32.1 kg/m², p<0.001) and a much greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes (75% vs. 20%) when compared to non-users. Among patients who had been using GLP-1 RAs for at least 6 months, an average 8.5% total body weight loss was observed prior to their surgery consultation, which was significantly higher than the 2.1% weight change seen in a matched control group not on these medications (p<0.05). This highlights a substantial impact on pre-surgical weight management. Furthermore, 45% of the GLP-1 RA users had initiated their therapy within the 12 months preceding their clinic visit, indicating a rapid and growing adoption trend.