Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs)

Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) may significantly reduce the risk for death from pandemic influenza for hospitalized adults, especially if given early, according to an article published March 19 in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

·         NAI treatment was associated with a 19% reduction of mortality irrespective of timing compared with no treatment (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70 - 0.93; P = .0024).

·         NAI treatment within 2 days of symptom onset was associated with a 50% reduction in mortality compared with no treatment (adjusted OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.37 - 0.67; P < .0001).

·         Early NAI treatment compared with later NAI treatment was associated with more than a 50% reduction in mortality risk (adjusted OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.41 - 0.56).

·         The mortality hazard rate (HR) increased with each day's delay in starting NAI treatment up to day 5 compared with treatment started within 2 days of symptom onset (adjusted HR per day, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.18 - 1.28; P < .0001).

·         Reductions in mortality rates were less pronounced and not significant for children.

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