In the treatment of influenza infection, the use of baloxavir vs oseltamivir may result in greater reductions in household transmission and health care resource utilization, according to study results presented at IDWeek 2023, held from October 11 to 15, in Boston, Massachusetts.
Researchers conducted an analysis from October 2022 to March 2023 to compare the incidence of household influenza transmission and health care resource utilization among patients who received baloxavir vs oseltamivir. Eligible study patients included adults who were enrolled at CVS pharmacy in the United States. All patients filled prescriptions for either baloxavir or oseltamivir within 2 days of symptom onset and self-reported adherence to treatment. Other eligibility criteria included residence with at least 2 other household members and no history of COVID-19 infection or household influenza transmission within 30 and 7 days prior to prescription receipt, respectively.
Patients who received baloxavir were matched with up to 3 patients who received oseltamivir by prescription fill date. Chi-squared and Fisher exact testing were used to assess the incidence of household influenza transmission and all-cause health care resource utilization through day 8 following prescription receipt. The researchers collected patient data via surveys administered on days 6, 7, and 8.
A total of 356 eligible patients were identified, of whom 275 completed the survey and were included in the final analysis. The mean patient age was 45 years, 65% were women, and 87% were White. In total, 89 patients received prescriptions for baloxavir and 186 received prescriptions for oseltamivir.
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Future research could validate these findings in larger populations.
The researchers observed lower rates of household influenza transmission among patients who received baloxavir vs oseltamivir (18% vs 27.4%; standardized mean difference, 0.23; relative risk, 0.66; P =.09).
Further analysis between the groups showed that baloxavir use resulted in numerically less health care resource utilization. This finding was primarily attributed to the lower rate of emergency department visits reported among patients who received baloxavir vs oseltamivir (0.0% vs 4.3%; P =.06).
No hospitalizations were reported among patients in either group.
According to the researchers, “Future research could validate these findings in larger populations.”
Disclosure: Multiple study authors reported affiliations with industry. Please see the reference for a full list of disclosures.
This article originally appeared on Infectious Disease Advisor.
References:
Best JH, Sadeghi MH, Sun XW, et al. Household flu transmission and healthcare resource use among patients treated with baloxavir versus oseltamivir for influenza: an outpatient prospective survey in the United States. Presented at: IDWeek 2023; October 11-15; Boston, MA. Poster 919.
