Differences in Treatment Preferences for Obesity and Sleep Apnea Among Patients and Healthcare Providers

A recent study presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting highlights contrasting treatment preferences between patients with combined obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep medicine professionals. The research reveals that while both groups consider continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and tirzepatide acceptable options—over 75% in both populations—preferences diverge significantly when it comes to choice. Patients tend to favor tirzepatide more, especially if evidence confirms comparable efficacy to CPAP (48% vs. 35%), whereas clinicians predominantly favor CPAP (53% vs. 26%). Additionally, both groups show support for integrated treatment approaches combining CPAP and tirzepatide, but patients are less enthusiastic about combination therapy than providers (61% vs. 88%).

This mismatch underscores the importance of understanding patient and provider perspectives to foster shared decision-making, which can influence adherence and overall treatment success. The study, analyzing responses from 17 UCSD sleep medicine experts and 365 patients—most with prior attempts at weight loss and current or past use of CPAP or tirzepatide—also notes that nearly 30 million adults in the U.S. suffer from OSA. The recent FDA approval of tirzepatide for use in obese adults with sleep apnea offers a new therapeutic avenue, although it may not fully cure the disorder. Combining treatments might be optimal for some patients, emphasizing the need for further real-world data comparing these interventions.

Principal investigator Dr. Chris Schmickl emphasizes that recognizing differing attitudes toward treatments is crucial for effective management plans. The research abstract has been published in the journal Sleep and will be discussed at the upcoming conference in Seattle.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-comorbid-obesity-apnea-treatment-differ.html