Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Usage in Sleep Surgery Clinic Patients

Saturday, October 11, 2025

4:54 PM - 5:00 PM EDT

Location: 136

Disclosure(s):

Yi Cai, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are increasingly used in management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and obesity, which may change OSA treatment paradigms. Current data estimates that 1 to 6% of the United States population is utilizing a GLP-1 RA. This study evaluates GLP-1 RA usage in a sleep surgery clinic population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients presenting to an academic sleep surgery clinic for sleep-disordered breathing between August and December 2024. Data collected included demographic information, body mass index (BMI), sleep study metrics including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and GLP-1 RA prescription status. Welch’s t-tests, chi-squared tests, and Fisher’s exact tests were applied in analyses.

Results: A total of 208 patients (56.3% male) were included, with mean age of 50.5 ± 16.6 years and BMI of 28.4 ± 5.7 kg/m2. One-hundred thirty patients (62.6%) had a diagnosis of OSA. Twenty-eight patients (13.5%) were actively treated with GLP-1 RAs and 2 patients (0.96%) were former users. Patients actively using GLP-1 RAs included 9 patients with BMI < 30 kg/m2 and 19 with BMI > 30 kg/m2. Thirteen patients using GLP-1 RAs had a diagnosis of diabetes, including 7 with BMI < 30 kg/m2. The most common GLP-1 RAs were semaglutide (15 patients, doses from 0.25 to 2.4 mg) and tirzepatide (13 patients, doses from 0.25 to 15 mg). Current or former GLP-1 RA users exhibited higher BMIs compared to non-users (32.3 ± 4.72 versus 27.7 ± 5.56; p < 0.001). The proportion of individuals who identified their race as White was higher among current or former GLP-1 RA users (70.0%) compared to non-users (45.7%; p = 0.02). Patients diagnosed with OSA were more likely to use GLP-1 RAs (odds ratio [OR] 4.6; 95% confidence interval 1.5 – 19.0; p = 0.004).

Conclusions: GLP-1 RA use in a sleep surgery clinic is higher than that of the national average. Factors associated with usage included higher BMI, OSA diagnosis, and White race. Future work should explore trends in GLP-1 RA usage as indications and insurance coverage have recently expanded to include OSA.

Presenting Author(s)

RK

Rachel B. Kutler, BA

Medical Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

PT

Paul D. Trackey, BS

Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
LZ

Lauren L. Zhang, BA

Medical Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, New York, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
AR

Andrea S. Rivera Diaz, BA MSc

Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
SJ

Sanja Jelic, MD

Columbia University Irving Medical Center, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD

Professor
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

Yi Cai, MD

Director of Sleep Surgery
Columbia University
New York, NY, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.