Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Mar 2024)

Household Influenza Transmission and Healthcare Resource Utilization Among Patients Treated with Baloxavir vs Oseltamivir: A United States Outpatient Prospective Survey

  • Jennie H. Best,
  • Mitra Sadeghi,
  • Xiaowu Sun,
  • Arpamas Seetasith,
  • Lisa Albensi,
  • Seema Joshi,
  • Marcus J. Zervos

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-024-00937-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 4
pp. 685 – 697

Abstract

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Abstract Introduction Influenza is a common, seasonal infectious disease with broad medical, economic, and social consequences. Real-world evidence on the effect of influenza treatment on household transmission and healthcare resource utilization is limited in outpatient settings in the USA. This study examined the real-world effectiveness of baloxavir vs oseltamivir in reducing influenza household transmission and healthcare resource utilization. Methods This prospective electronic survey on patient-reported outcomes was conducted between October 2022 and May 2023 via CVS Pharmacy in the USA. Adult participants (≥ 18 years old) were eligible if they filled a prescription for baloxavir or oseltamivir at a CVS Pharmacy within 2 days of influenza symptom onset. Participant demographics, household transmission, and all-cause healthcare resource utilization were collected. Transmission and utilization outcomes were assessed using χ 2 and Fisher exact tests. Results Of 87,871 unique patients contacted, 1346 (1.5%) consented. Of 374 eligible patients, 286 (90 baloxavir- and 196 oseltamivir-treated patients) completed the survey and were included in the analysis. Mean age of participants was 45.4 years, 65.6% were female, and 86.7% were White. Lower household transmission was observed with baloxavir compared with oseltamivir therapy (17.8% vs 26.5%; relative risk = 0.67; 95% CI 0.41–1.11). Healthcare resource utilization, particularly emergency department visits (0.0% vs 4.6%), was also numerically lower in the baloxavir-treated group; no hospitalizations were reported in either cohort. Conclusions The findings from this real-world study suggest that antiviral treatment of influenza with baloxavir may decrease household transmission and reduce healthcare resource utilization compared with oseltamivir.

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