Effectiveness of Oseltamivir in Hospitalized Children With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza, 2014-2023.
Oseltamivir associated with lower risk of intensive care unit admission in hospitalized children with influenza
Effectiveness of Oseltamivir in Hospitalized Children With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza, 2014-2023.
IMPORTANCE: National organizations recommend antiviral treatment for hospitalized children with influenza; however, use in this setting has recently declined.
To assess the association between oseltamivir receipt and intensive care unit (intensive care unit) admission and hospital length of stay (LOS) among pediatric influenza-associated hospitalizations.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study used data that were obtained from the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET), which conducts US population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalizations for all ages across 13 states.
oseltamivir lowered the risk of intensive care unit admission
In the intensive care unit analysis, the median (IQR) age was 3 (1-7) years, 3382 (56%) were male and 3721 (44%) were female, and 2937 (49%) had 1 or more medical comorbidity-the most common of which was asthma in 1547 children (26%).
In this cohort of children hospitalized with influenza, oseltamivir treatment was significantly associated with a reduced risk of intensive care unit admission by 31% and decreased hospital LOS.
These findings demonstrate the benefits of oseltamivir receipt and support current national recommendations for oseltamivir treatment as soon as possible in children hospitalized with suspected or laboratory-confirmed influenza.