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, parallel group study conducted in 14 countries in Europe and North America during the winter of 1995/1996. Patients and participants: The study included 722 individuals with virologically 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 contacts 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). Individuals 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 (placebo: mean = 2.90 days; bid: mean = 2.24 days; p = 0.032), and showed significant improvements in productivity compared with placebo. The health status questionnaire revealed significant improvements in patient well-being over the first 5 days of the study in those treated with zanamivir compared with those who received placebo. Conclusions: Zanamivir treatment reduced absenteeism, improved patient productivity and well-being, and reduced the additional use of healthcare resources in patients with influenza.