Oseltamivir may lower influenza-related complications in children

Study design

• This retrospective cohort study included 16,162 children with influenza/ILI (aged, ≤17 years) using data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) during the 2009-2010 pandemic.
• Primary outcome: any influenza-related complications.
• Funding: National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research.

Key results

• Of 16,162 children, 4028 (24.9%) were prescribed oseltamivir and influenza-related complications were recorded in 753 (4.7%).
• In propensity score analyses, oseltamivir prescriptions were associated with reduced:
  • influenza-related complications (risk difference [RD], −0.015; 95% CI, −0.022 to −0.008; P<.0001>
  • complications requiring further intervention (RD, −0.006; 95% CI, −0.012 to −0.001; P=.0201);
  • pneumonia (RD, −0.002; 95% CI, −0.003 to −0.001; P<.0001>
  • pneumonia or hospitalisation (RD, −0.004; 95% CI, −0.006 to −0.001; P=.0041); and
  • influenza-related hospitalisation (RD, −0.003; 95% CI, −0.005 to −0.001; P=.023), but not all-cause hospitalisation (RD, −0.003; 95% CI, −0.007 to 0.0003; P=.0737).
• In adjusted instrumental variable analyses, oseltamivir was linked to reduction in:
  • influenza-related complications (RD, −0.032; 95% CI, −0.051 to −0.013; P=.0007);
  • pneumonia or hospitalisation (RD, −0.009; 95% CI, −0.017 to −0.002; P=.0102); 
  • all-cause hospitalisation (RD, −0.028; 95% CI, −0.051 to −0.006; P=.0141); and
  • influenza-related hospitalisation (RD -0.021; 95% CI, -0.039 to -0.003; P=.0226).

Limitations

• Retrospective design.