A recent study found that tirzepatide, a drug already known for helping people lose weight, also makes sleep apnea much better. It cuts the number of breathing pauses during sleep, improves oxygen levels, lowers blood pressure, and reduces heart‑disease risk, and it does this not just by shedding pounds but also by changing where fat is stored, calming inflammation, and tweaking the nervous system.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-disordered breathing. Obesity is one of the primary risk factors for OSA, while OSA itself may promote weight gain by impairing metabolism and increasing insulin resistance, thereby creating a vicious cycle. Together, these conditions pose a persistent public health challenge. In recent years, tirzepatide, a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide 1 (GIP/GLP-1) receptor agonist, has demonstrated therapeutic potential beyond weight loss in the management of obesity, encompassing various mechanisms. The recent SURMOUNT-OSA study showed that tirzepatide significantly reduced the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in OSA patients and improved oxygen desaturation, blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related risk factors. These effects are thought to be mediated not only by weight reduction, but also by modulation of fat distribution, inflammatory status, and autonomic nervous system function. This highlights the potential advantages of tirzepatide in obese patients with OSA. This review summarizes recent advances in tirzepatide research in this population, exploring its mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for precision treatment strategies for OSA.