Background: Although oseltamivir is a common influenza treatment, there is a lack of data on the economic benefits of timely oseltamivir treatment.
Methods: From February 2004 through June 2007, 116 hospitalized children ≤ 15 years of age with laboratory-confirmed influenza who received oseltamivir were identified via retrospective medical chart review. Demographic, clinical, and cost data were abstracted and multivariate linear regression was used to assess the association between oseltamivir time to treatment and treatment-related costs among hospitalized children with laboratory-confirmed influenza.
Results: Overall, 28% (n = 33) of patients were treated with oseltamivir ≥ day 3 of admission. Rapid influenza diagnostic test was used in a significantly lower proportion of patients treated with oseltamivir ≥ day 3 of admission compared with those who received oseltamivir earlier. On multivariate linear regression, initiation of oseltamivir ≥ day 3 of admission was associated with a 60.84% increase (95%CI: 32.59-95.11) in treatment-related hospital costs, compared with initiation on admission.
Conclusion: Delayed initiation of oseltamivir was found to be associated with increased treatment-related hospital costs among children hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza.
Keywords: children; hospital cost; influenza; oseltamivir; rapid influenza diagnostic test.
© 2014 Japan Pediatric Society.