GLP-1s fuel shift in sleep care

Once pushed aside by the pressures of work and productivity, sleep is now at the center of how patients, providers and society think about well-being. 

“We now understand that poor sleep doesn’t just leave you feeling tired, it’s linked to serious, chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes,” said Dr. Carlos Nunez, chief medical officer at Resmed. 

This shift is driving an unprecedented surge in demand for sleep therapy, with a growing confluence of consumer technology, clinical awareness and shifting patient pathways reshaping the landscape. 

Nearly one billion people worldwide suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, yet roughly 80% remain undiagnosed. The health implications are stark: OSA contributes to conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, while CPAP therapy—its gold standard treatment—has been shown to reduce the overall chance of dying by 37% and heart-related deaths by 55%, according to a study in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, says Nunez. 

But in 2025, awareness alone isn’t enough. New technologies are transforming how—and how fast—patients move from insight to intervention.  

A New Front Door 
One of the most profound changes is happening upstream. Primary care screenings are fast becoming the new front door to sleep therapy. 

“People seeking support with GLP-1 medications brings more people into the healthcare system to talk to their providers about weight, sleep and other chronic conditions,” he said. “Conversations about weight management can open the door to sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment.” 

GLP-1s are also reshaping care pathways for patients already in treatment. 

“We’re seeing it play out both ways,” said James Dragatsis, president of Resupply Solutions. “Some patients (improve enough) they no longer require therapy or need different clinical protocols. On the other hand, you’re also catching patients earlier, before years of untreated apnea causes downstream issues. GLP-1s aren’t a threat to the CPAP market, they’re a complement.” 

Real-world data supports the trend: OSA patients on GLP-1s show higher CPAP initiation and resupply rates one and two years post-setup, says Nunez. 

For providers, that means building care pathways flexible enough to accommodate both evolving therapy needs and higher patient volumes. 
From Awareness to Engagement 
Wearables are also playing a pivotal role in driving earlier awareness. Nearly 29% of respondents in Resmed’s Global Sleep Survey now use smartwatches or rings to track sleep, says Nunez. 

“Wearables give people insight into their nightly habits,” he said. “But detection and awareness must lead to action.” 

To bridge that gap, home sleep apnea tests are helping convert curiosity into diagnosis, says Robin Randolph, senior vice president at sovaSage. 

“FDA-cleared devices like Type III/IV home sleep test systems and consumer-friendly wearables are making sleep screening more accessible, less invasive, and highly scalable,” said Randolph. 

But getting patients into therapy is only half the battle. Maintaining treatment requires ongoing support and personalized outreach. 
Scaling Success 
Enter AI-driven virtual assistants and compliance tools, now integrated into CPAP platforms to deliver real-time, personalized messaging to patients, says Randolph. 

“These timely prompts and reminders help reinforce good habits, troubleshoot common issues and reduce therapy dropout rates, which is crucial for long-term health benefits in sleep apnea patients,” she said. 

These tools are also reshaping how providers manage adherence at scale. 

“AI systems are designed to work alongside care teams, with built-in escalation pathways to human coaches or respiratory therapists when personalized intervention is needed,” says Randolph. 

The impact comes when technology helps personalize patient care, says Dragatsis. 

“Predictive analytics allow us to see which patients may fall off therapy, where adherence is dropping, and proactively intervene before that happens,” he said. “It's not just about automating outbound texts, it's about making sure we’re reaching the right patient, with the right message, at the right time, and with live agents who still bring empathy into the conversation.” 
Building a Resilient System 
The pressures facing providers are not going away. Staffing shortages, payer squeezes and growing patient demand are forcing HME businesses to rethink their models. 

“Virtual agents and automated workflows now make it possible for HME providers to manage larger patient populations without sacrificing quality of care,” says Randolph. “Patients receive consistent touchpoints and support, regardless of provider staffing limitations, which enhances both access and experience.” 

Dragatsis sees a simple formula for success. 

“Be the easy button. Referrals want fewer headaches," he said. "Patients want fewer hoops. That means not just sending reminders but having processes in place to proactively monitor patient adherence, optimize scheduling, and ensure orders move cleanly through both clinical and billing systems.”