Impact of zanamivir treatment on productivity, health status and healthcare resource use in patients with influenza

Objective: This study examined the impact of zanamivir treatment on patient morbidity in patients with influenza. Design and setting: This was a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, paral lel group study conducted in 14 countries in Europe and North America durin g the winter of 1995/1996. Patients and participants: The study included 722 individuals with virologi cally confirmed influenza. Interventions: Two different zanamivir treatment regimens [twice daily (bid ) or 4 times daily (qid) for 5 days] were compared with placebo. Main outcome measures and results: Efficacy was measured using a number of patient-assessment questionnaires. Results showed that significantly fewer patients with influenza who were treated with zanamivir had additional cont acts with healthcare professionals compared with those who received placebo (8 vs 14%; p less than or equal to 0.049, bid and qid vs placebo). Individ uals treated with zanamivir also spent fewer days absent from work (placebo : mean = 3.28 days; qid: mean = 2.52 days; p = 0.031) or college/school (pl acebo: mean = 2.90 days; bid: mean = 2.24 days; p = 0.032), and showed sign ificant improvements in productivity compared with placebo. The health stat us questionnaire revealed significant improvements in patient well-being ov er the first 5 days of the study in those treated with zanamivir compared w ith those who received placebo. Conclusions: Zanamivir treatment reduced absenteeism, improved patient prod uctivity and well-being, and reduced the additional use of healthcare resou rces in patients with influenza.