Season 7 | Episode 6
Dr. Atul Malhotra, Dr. Radhika Breaden, Dr. Jeremy McConnell, Dr. Rafael Sepulveda-Acosta | GUEST
In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla explores a transformative development in sleep medicine: the FDA approval of tirzepatide for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Joined by an expert panel including Dr. Atul Malhotra, lead investigator of the SURMOUNT-OSA trial, and specialists Dr. Radhika Breaden, Dr. Jeremy McConnell, and Dr. Rafael Sepulveda-Acosta, the discussion examines how sleep clinicians can effectively incorporate this groundbreaking medication into their treatment protocols.
Discover key insights about the SURMOUNT-OSA trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine, including the mechanisms behind AHI improvement beyond weight reduction alone. Learn practical implementation strategies for private practices, including documentation requirements for insurance approval, necessary baseline labs, and optimal patient follow-up protocols. The experts address crucial questions about Medicare coverage, long-term medication management, the need for retesting at goal weight, and considerations for transitioning patients already using GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy.
This episode provides essential guidance for sleep medicine specialists considering expanding their treatment options beyond traditional PAP therapy, including collaborations with obesity medicine clinics and whether obtaining board certification in Obesity Medicine would benefit sleep clinicians. This timely discussion equips practitioners with the knowledge to navigate the intersection of sleep medicine and obesity treatment in managing OSA patients.
Dr. Radhika Breaden
Medical Director of Pacific Sleep Program in Portland, Oregon, one of the largest independent sleep medicine practices in the Pacific Northwest. She is a community sleep medicine physician who has been board certified in Obesity Medicine since 2016.
Dr. Atul Malhotra
Vice Chair of Medicine for Research and Research Chief of pulmonary critical care sleep medicine and physiology. He led the SURMOUNT-OSA trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which resulted in FDA approval of tirzepatide for obstructive sleep apnea treatment. He serves as a paid consultant for Lilly.
Dr. Jeremy McConnell
Board Certified physician in Family, Sleep, and Obesity Medicine with a private practice in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida. He serves as a Master Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and as Board Chair of the Florida Obesity Society.
Dr. Rafael Sepulveda-Acosta
Founder and Medical Director of Sleep Fit Medical – Sleep & Weight Management Center in Sonoma, California. He is board-certified in both Sleep Medicine and Obesity Medicine, specializing in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders while addressing their connection to obesity and cardiometabolic health. He actively volunteers with both the AASM Foundation and the Obesity Medicine Association.
