Equity in the receipt of oseltamivir in the United States during the H1N1 pandemic.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the relationship between individual characteristics and receipt of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the United States during the H1N1 pandemic and other flu seasons.


METHODS
In a cohort of individuals enrolled in pharmacy benefit plans, we used a multivariate logistic regression model to measure associations between subscriber characteristics and filling a prescription for oseltamivir during 3 flu seasons (October 2006-May 2007, October 2007-May 2008, and October 2008-May 2010). In 19 states with county-level influenza rates reported, we controlled for disease burden.


RESULTS
Approximately 56 million subscribers throughout the United States were included in 1 or more study periods. During pandemic flu, beneficiaries in the highest income category had 97% greater odds of receiving oseltamivir than those in the lowest category (P < .001). After we controlled for disease burden, subscribers in the 2 highest income categories had 2.18 and 1.72 times the odds of receiving oseltamivir compared with those in the lowest category (P < .001 for both).


CONCLUSIONS
Income was a stronger predictor of oseltamivir receipt than prevalence of influenza. These findings corroborate concerns about equity of treatment in pandemics, and they call for improved approaches to distributing potentially life-saving treatments.
Jessica M. Franklin, Niteesh K. Choudhry, Gregory Brill, Michael A. Fischer, Sebastian Schneeweiss, Jerry Avorn, and William H. Shrank are with the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Lori Uscher-Pines is with RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA. Olga S. Matlin and Troyen A. Brennan are with CVS Caremark, Woonsocket, RI.
Jessica M
JM
Franklin
Niteesh K
NK
Choudhry
Lori
L
Uscher-Pines
Gregory
G
Brill
Olga S
OS
Matlin
Michael A
MA
Fischer
Sebastian
S
Schneeweiss
Jerry
J
Avorn
Troyen A
TA
Brennan
William H
WH
Shrank
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053139:Oseltamivir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D053139:Oseltamivir