Oseltamivir Doesn't Prevent Hospitalizations in Outpatients with Influenza

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is an antiviral drug that modestly reduces duration of influenza symptoms (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 1 2015 and Lancet 2015; 385:1729). However, whether oseltamivir lowers risk for hospitalization is unclear. In this meta-analysis of 15 randomized trials (6300 patients; mean age, 45), researchers determined whether outpatients with laboratory-confirmed influenza were less likely to be hospitalized with severe influenza-associated complications if they received oseltamivir.

The incidence of hospitalization in the untreated control groups was low (0.6%) and was not significantly lower in the oseltamivir groups. Subgroup analyses showed that oseltamivir was not associated with lower risk for hospitalization among older participa…