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Factors Associated with Antiviral Drug Use Among Commercially Insured Children at High Risk for Complications of
Abdullah Abdelaziz1, Jyotirmoy Sarker1, Pei-Wen Lien1
1Department of Pharmacy Systems, Outcomes and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Insights
Nearly half of high-risk children with influenza did not receive antiviral treatment, despite guidelines. Factors like age and region influenced dispensing, highlighting areas for intervention to improve care for vulnerable pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Pharmacoepidemiology
Background:
- Influenza poses significant risks to high-risk children.
- Antiviral medications are recommended for prompt treatment in this population.
- Understanding antiviral dispensing patterns is crucial for optimizing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of antiviral drug use in US children at high risk for influenza complications.
- To identify factors associated with the dispensing of antiviral medications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of pediatric outpatient visits (2016-2020).
- Utilized Merative MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounter database.
- Defined high-risk status using IDSA criteria; analyzed antiviral dispensing within 2 days of diagnosis via modified Poisson regression.
Main Results:
- Over 372,000 influenza episodes in high-risk children were analyzed.
- Antiviral treatment was dispensed in 54.1% of cases.
- Increased use associated with asthma, West/South regions, urgent care, and certain insurance plans; decreased use with younger age, ED visits, Midwest/Northeast regions.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of high-risk children with influenza did not receive recommended antiviral treatment.
- Factors influencing dispensing disparities were identified, including demographic, geographic, and healthcare setting variables.
- Findings can inform interventions to improve antiviral access and treatment for vulnerable pediatric populations.
Objectives:
To evaluate the prevalence of antiviral drug use in children in the US with influenza at high risk for complications and to identify factors associated with dispensing.
Study Design:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of outpatient visits for individuals < 18 years during the 2016-2020 influenza seasons using the Merative MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounter database. High-risk status was defined using Infectious Disease Society of America definitions and included: age, specific comorbidities, pregnancy or postpartum status, and living in a long-term care facility. The primary outcome was antiviral (oseltamivir, zanamivir, baloxavir) dispensing within 2 days of influenza diagnosis. We determined clinical factors associated with antiviral dispensing using modified Poisson regression.
Results:
A total of 372 372 influenza episodes were identified among 331 389 children at high risk for influenza complications and included in this study. The median (IQR) age was 4.0 years (2.0, 9.0). Overall, during 201 638 (54.1%) episodes of the influenza, antiviral treatment was dispensed. Factors associated with increased antiviral use included asthma, West and South US geographic regions, urgent care settings, and specific health insurance plans. Factors associated with decreased antiviral use include younger age, emergency department setting, Midwest and Northeast geographic regions, and health insurance plans.
Conclusion:
Despite national guidelines recommending that all children at high risk for influenza complications receive antiviral treatment, nearly half of these children at high-risk did not receive an antiviral in our study. We identify several factors associated with decreased antiviral treatment that may serve to inform future interventions aiming to improve the care of vulnerable children with influenza.
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