Demonstrates lower mortality and healthcare utilization in older adults with obstructive sleep apnea, suggesting significant therapeutic benefits.
Rationale Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in older adults and is associated with cardiopulmonary complications, frailty, and increased mortality. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1a), widely prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity, provide established cardiovascular and metabolic benefits and are increasingly used in older adults with multimorbidity. Emerging evidence suggests GLP-1a may also improve OSA severity through weight loss and systemic anti-inflammatory effects. However, real-world data evaluating their impact on clinical outcomes in elderly patients with OSA remains limited. Methods We analyzed data from the TriNetX US Network. Adults aged ≥70 years with a diagnosis of OSA were identified and stratified into two cohorts: those with GLP-1a exposure and those without. Outcomes were assessed up to 3 years after the index event. Propensity score matching (1:1) was performed to balance comorbidities, yielding 97,277 patients per cohort. Survival analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier methods, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards models with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results GLP-1a use was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR 0.462, 95% CI 0.445-0.479; p < 0.001). Healthcare utilization was reduced, including hospitalizations (HR 0.911, 95% CI 0.882-0.940; p < 0.001) and ER visits (HR 0.918, 95% CI 0.890-0.947; p < 0.001). Risk of aspiration pneumonitis was also lower (HR 0.543, 95% CI 0.500-0.589; p < 0.001).Cardiopulmonary outcomes demonstrated consistent benefit. Overall heart failure incidence was reduced (HR 0.774, 95% CI 0.748-0.800; p < 0.001). Subtype analyses showed decreased acute systolic HF (HR 0.600, 95% CI 0.548-0.656; p < 0.001) and acute diastolic HF (HR 0.586, 95%CI 0.543-0.634; p < 0.001). Pulmonary hypertension (HR 0.644, 95% CI 0.615-0.675; p < 0.001) and cor pulmonale (HR 0.398, 95% CI 0.332-0.477; p < 0.001) were likewise reduced. Frailty-related outcomes improved with GLP-1a: falls (HR 0.918, 95% CI 0.884-0.952; p < 0.001), overall fractures (HR 0.928, 95% CI 0.879-0.979; p = 0.006), fragility fractures (HR 0.853, 95% CI 0.788-0.923; p < 0.001), and severe protein-calorie malnutrition (HR 0.567, 95% CI 0.515-0.625; p < 0.001).Conversely, gastrointestinal adverse events were more frequent in GLP-1a users, including gastroparesis (HR 1.294, 95% CI 1.147-1.460; p < 0.001) and nausea/vomiting (HR 1.111, 95% CI 1.073-1.150; p < 0.001). Conclusion In adults aged ≥70 years with OSA, GLP-1a exposure was associated with substantially lower all-cause mortality and broad reductions in cardiopulmonary complications, healthcare utilization, and frailty-related outcomes. These benefits were accompanied by increased risks of gastrointestinal adverse events, particularly gastroparesis and nausea/vomiting. Collectively, these findings highlight both the therapeutic potential and safety considerations of GLP-1a use as part of comprehensive OSA management in older adults. This abstract is funded by: None
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Khan et al. (2026) studied this question.
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