New drug offers "two-for-one" treatment of heart failure, sleep apnea

[Wicked Blue]

New Atlas
By Paul McClure
March 30, 2023

Heart failure is a global health problem commonly complicated by sleep apnea, a co-morbidity that further reduces a person’s lifespan. A promising new drug has been developed that could treat heart failure and sleep apnea by targeting the nervous activity that drives both.

For people with heart failure, the prognosis is poor and mortality high despite recent advances in treatment. According to the National Institutes of Health, heart failure affects more than 64 million people worldwide, making it a major global public health priority.

...

Now, a promising new drug has been developed that targets the nerve activity that causes both heart failure and sleep apnea. Researchers from the University of Auckland in New Zealand tested the drug, known as AF-130, on rats with chronic heart failure and sleep apnea. They found that AF-130 acted as an effective P2X3 receptor antagonist, normalizing the body’s respiratory response to hypoxia and substantially improving the amount of blood pumped by the heart (cardiac output). Breathing disturbances were eliminated.

“This drug does offer benefit for heart failure, but it’s two for the price of one, in that it’s also relieving the apnea for which there is currently no drug, only CPAP, which is poorly tolerated,” said Julian Paton, corresponding author of the study.

https://newatlas.com/medical/new-drug-two-for-one-treatment-heart-failure-sleep-apnea/

The article mentions that the drug is soon to be approved by the FDA for a different clinical use.

I am so excited. I HATE CPAPs.

[niyad]

1. Fingers crossed.

[mopinko]

2. oh man. i hope this isnt too spendy.

it drives me nuts that shrinks dont take sleep seriously, even tho it is an actually treatable cause of mental health issues. they’ll tell you it’s just a symptom. (which leads to ppl getting a mi dx, even tho their brains just need sleep.)
and at this point, mi is soooo rampant, we need all the help we can get.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Wow, I hope the trials pan out. This would be great news. nt

[BComplex]

4. I'm sorry you hate your CPAP. I love mine. It's like a security blanket.

Because I remember how I felt when I didn't use it. My organs were all shutting down, and I was getting old way before my time, because I wasn't breathing when I slept. Always woke up tired. With a headache. Body hurt all the time.

Now I'm going and working 24/7, and feel great.

I even use my CPAP when I take a nap. Never sleep without it.

[Wicked Blue]

5. I'm happy that you like it

The CPAP made no difference for me whatsoever.

I have bladder issues and need to get up and go to the bathroom a couple of times a night. What with having to disentangle myself from the mask and tubes while half asleep, I could never reach it in time.

[BComplex]

6. My mask is really easy to unplug from the hose.

I just reach over and hit the button that turns off the air, then I pull the short hose attached to my mask from the long hose attached to the machine, trott off to the bathroom. Then when I'm back, I just re-hook the big hose to the little hose, and hit the "on" button on the machine, and I'm back off to sleep.

I'm wondering if a different mask/hose set up would work better for you?

I really feel like everyone would benefit from CPAP as they age, because oxygenated blood makes you feel so much more energy.