Comparative effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists in obstructive sleep apnea: A network meta‐analysis of randomised trials
Pooled result · AHIResult — go to the resultMD −22.17 events/h 95% CI −38.01 to −6.33Authors' conclusion
CPAP is the most effective therapy for respiratory control, while GLP-1 receptor agonists primarily improve weight and glycaemic indices
Study context
- Population
- Adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); RCTs of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), exenatide, liraglutide, tirzepatide or combinations (PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL through August 2025)
- Participants
- 3,964 adults34 trials
- Comparison
- CPAP, GLP-1 RAs, their combination and no active intervention
- Outcome
- Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects, SUCRA ranking, GRADE certainty assessment
- Random-effects
- SUCRA ranking
- GRADE certainty assessment
Pooled result
AHI
MD
−22.17 events/h
95% CI −38.01 to −6.33
CPAPvs No active intervention
MD −22.17 events/h (95% CI −38.01 to −6.33)
As reported in the abstract
Further pooled results
| Outcome | MD (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| ESSCPAPvs No active intervention | −2.75 (−3.71 to −1.79) | |
| −4−202Difference (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (kg/m²) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| BMILiraglutidevs No active intervention | −1.60 (−2.04 to −1.16) | |
| BMILiraglutide plus CPAPvs No active interventionGreatest BMI reduction | −2.00 (−3.49 to −0.51) | |
| −4−202Difference, kg/m² (linear scale) |
| Outcome | MD (%) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| HbA1cLiraglutidevs No active intervention | −0.19 (−0.25 to −0.13) | |
| −0.3−0.2−0.100.1Difference, % (linear scale) |
HbA1c
- CPAP showed no meaningful metabolic effect
SBP, DBP, fasting glucose
- No intervention significantly changed SBP, DBP or fasting glucose
GRADE certainty of evidence
- Moderate for CPAP on respiratory and sleepiness outcomes and for GLP-1 RAs on body mass index (BMI) and HbA1c; low for blood pressure and fasting glucose
Original publication
Comparative effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists in obstructive sleep apnea: A network meta‐analysis of randomised trials. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 23 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →