The short answer
In SCALE Sleep Apnea, liraglutide improved breathing-event counts, but most participants stayed in the same sleep-apnea severity category.
Who took part?
Researchers randomized 359 adults with obesity and moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea. They did not have diabetes and were unable or unwilling to use CPAP. Both groups received diet and activity support for 32 weeks.
Events per hour; both groups received lifestyle support
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Liraglutide 3 mg daily | 12.2 events/hour |
| Placebo | 6.1 events/hour |
What changed?
With daily liraglutide 3 mg, breathing interruptions fell by 12.2 events per hour, compared with 6.1 with placebo. This measures breathing interruptions.
Average weight loss was 5.7% versus 1.6%. Daytime-sleepiness scores did not clearly improve more.
What were the trade-offs?
Side effects caused 12% versus 3% to leave the trial, most often digestive problems in the liraglutide group. Serious adverse events affected 3.4% in each group.
About 23% did not finish; analyses used earlier measurements for missing follow-up data. Participants were mostly men, and follow-up was short.
The practical takeaway
Improving a sleep-test number does not necessarily mean sleep apnea has resolved. This trial did not compare liraglutide with CPAP or establish that it could replace it.
Novo Nordisk sponsored the trial.
Sources
Blackman and colleagues, International Journal of Obesity, 2016