Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Tailoring Treatment for Better Sleep and Health
In the concluding video of the series, PA Fox delves into the treatment strategies for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), primarily highlighting the role of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. She addresses common patient hesitations regarding CPAP use and emphasizes the need for ongoing follow-up to improve adherence.
PA Fox also introduces alternative treatment options, including oral appliances and surgical interventions, while discussing the emerging use of tirzepatide for patients with obesity-related OSA. She stresses the importance of a holistic management plan that encompasses lifestyle changes and engages patients and their families in shared decision-making. Through this comprehensive approach, PA Fox aims to enhance treatment outcomes and improve the quality of life for patients with OSA.
Key Takeaways:
- CPAP is the most common treatment for OSA, but some patients are hesitant to use it.
- A GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist can help to address the underlying cause of OSA in patients with obesity.
- Use shared decision making to agree with patients on treatment; for many patients, this improves treatment adherence.
Speaker
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References and Additional Resources:
Elwyn G, Durand MA, Song J, et al. A three-talk model for shared decision making: multistage consultation process. BMJ. 2017;359:j4891. doi:10.1136/bmj.j4891
Fabricius PK, Nielsen MM, Sørensen LB, et al. 072 Co-producing a patient decision aid to support shared decision making and treatment choices for patients with chronic obstructive sleep apnea. In: ISDM Conference – AMH Randomised Trial Abstract. Vol 29. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; 2024:A32-A32.
Khan NNS, Todem D, Bottu S, Badr MS, Olomu A. Impact of patient and family engagement in improving continuous positive airway pressure adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(1):181-191. doi:10.5664/jcsm.9534
Malhotra A, Grunstein RR, Fietze I, et al. Tirzepatide for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. N Engl J Med. 2024;391(13):1193-1205. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2404881
Sharma AM, Birney S, Crotty M, et al. Determinants of adherence to obesity medication: A narrative review. Obes Rev. 2025;26(5):e13885. doi:10.1111/obr.13885
Shaukat R, Gamal Y, Ali A, Mohamed S. Adherence to positive airway pressure therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Cureus. 2022;14(6):e25946. doi:10.7759/cureus.25946
Srivastava M, Ampeti S, Begum Sheikh R, Nirali Kirankumar P, Ravindra Sali S. Integrated approaches to obesity management: Pharmacological advances, pandemic challenges, and the role of shared decision-making. medtigo J Pharmacol. 2025;2(e3061232). doi:10.63096/medtigo3061232
Tondt J, Freshwater M, Benson-Davies S, et al. Obesity Algorithm. Obesity Medicine Association; 2025. https://obesitymedicine.org/resources/obesity-algorithm/
Weaver TE, Grunstein RR. Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure therapy: the challenge to effective treatment. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2008;5(2):173-178. doi:10.1513/pats.200708-119MG
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