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Q3 2025 Recap: Sleep Medicine News and Updates
Emerging research highlights the critical link between sleep quality and cardiovascular health.
As 2025 progresses, HCPLive highlights emerging research linking sleep to cardiovascular and metabolic health, with implications for clinical practice. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy continues to demonstrate benefits in patients with sleep apnea, improving blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c. Poor sleep patterns, including irregular schedules or short and long durations, are associated with higher cardiovascular risk, mortality, and diabetes distress. Novel interventions, including esketamine for treatment-resistant depression and comorbid insomnia, and FDA-approved tirzepatide for obstructive sleep apnea, show promising effects on sleep quality, cardiometabolic outcomes, and patient-reported well-being, emphasizing the importance of integrating sleep-focused strategies into care.
The Link Between Sleep and Cardiovascular Health
https://www.hcplive.com/view/pap-therapy-sleep-apnea-linked-improved-blood-pressure-harneet-walia-md
New research reinforces the cardiometabolic benefits of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in patients with sleep apnea. In an interview with Harneet Walia, MD, of Baptist Health, findings showed that routine PAP therapy use was linked to reductions in hemoglobin A1c and modest yet meaningful improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Even small decreases in blood pressure may translate into significant cardiovascular risk reduction, underscoring the therapy’s potential beyond sleep quality.
Sleep Patterns May Influence Cardiovascular Health and All-Cause Mortality
A study found that poor sleep health, particularly irregular sleep patterns and long sleep duration, was linked to greater risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and all-cause mortality. Among 9641 participants followed for more than 15 years, those reporting over 8 hours of sleep faced significantly greater mortality risk compared to individuals with 7–8 hours. Short sleep showed a non-significant trend toward increased mortality, while irregular sleep suggested modest risk. Researchers noted sex-specific differences, with women more affected by irregular sleep and men by both short and long durations.
Poor Sleep Linked to Greater Diabetes Distress in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
A population-based study from Norway found that poor sleep is significantly linked to higher diabetes distress in adults with type 2 diabetes, even after adjusting for confounders such as BMI, insulin use, and depression. The analysis of nearly 2000 participants revealed that short sleep duration, disturbances, and especially daytime dysfunction were strongly associated with distress.
Eskatmine Helps Sleep in Those With Depression
Esketamine Plus Dexmedetomidine Boosts Sleep in Comorbid Insomnia, Depression
A randomized trial found that combining esketamine with dexmedetomidine significantly improved sleep outcomes in patients with comorbid insomnia and depression. Compared with dexmedetomidine plus saline, the combination therapy increased total sleep time, prolonged N3 deep sleep, and enhanced sleep continuity after just three days. Patients also experienced greater reductions in depression scores and higher serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations, suggesting enhanced antidepressant effects.
While both groups improved, esketamine yielded larger gains in deep sleep quality and mood. Investigators concluded that esketamine effectively augments dexmedetomidine’s sleep benefits in this challenging patient population.
Esketamine Rapidly Improves Sleep in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Phase 4 data show that esketamine rapidly improves sleep quality in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), reducing insomnia and enhancing next-day well-being. In a 6-month study, patients receiving esketamine alongside antidepressants reported significantly fewer insomnia symptoms compared with those on standard antidepressants alone. Esketamine improved total sleep quality, reduced nocturnal awakenings, and boosted both mental and physical performance. Its effects are linked to circadian rhythm modulation and enhanced neuronal plasticity, addressing one of the most disruptive symptoms of TRD.
Sleep Medicine Expert Perspectives on Tirzepatide for OSA
The FDA approval of tirzepatide (Zepbound) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has sparked a surge in referrals, with experts calling it a “ray of hope” for many patients. Results from the phase 3 SURMOUNT-OSA trial showed tirzepatide significantly reduced apnea-hypopnea index events, improved oxygenation, lowered blood pressure and inflammation, and achieved up to 20% weight loss in adults with OSA and obesity. Nearly half of patients reached remission or mild, non-symptomatic OSA after 1 year. While most effective in overweight patients, experts emphasized tirzepatide as one important tool among several options for treating sleep apnea.
Related:
- Tirzepatide’s Impact on OSA, With Atul Malhotra, MD
- Tirzepatide’s Role in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Care: Q&A With Brian Weeks, MD
