Socioeconomic analysis of oseltamivir for influenza patients

A cost analysis on the use of oseltamivir treatments for patients with infuenza was performed, and the economics impact of an oseltamivir treatment program was estimated. We developed tree with the occurrence of pneumonia as endpoints to compare two strategies in otherwise healthy adult patients with an influenza-like illness: an oseltamivir group and a non-oseltamivir group. The basic analysis was performed from the payer's perspective, but additional analyses were also conducted in which the productivity losses associated with influenza were considered. The parameter used in the analysis were extrapolated from a random-controlled Japanese study on the use of oseltamivir and references to published data. The expected medical cost per patient was 14,100 yen and 14,412 yen and 63,485 yen fot the oseltamivir group and non-oseltamovir group, respectively. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis on the parameters used in our model and calculated threshold values. Furthermore, we estimated that the use of oseltamovir would result in a nationwide healthcare cost savings of between 1.1 billion and 3.4 billion yen.