title: Impact of zanamivir treatment on productivity, health status and healthcare resource use in patients with influenza. Zanamivir Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the impact of zanamivir treatment on patient morbidity in patients with influenza.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 722 individuals with virologically confirmed influenza.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two different zanamivir treatment regimens [twice daily (bid) or 4 times daily (qid) for 5 days] were compared with placebo.
  
  
  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 < or = 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lacey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edmundson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006146:Guanidines; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D011714:Pyrans; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053243:Zanamivir
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006146:Guanidines; D011714:Pyrans; D012794:Sialic Acids; D053243:Zanamivir