-
Dijous, 20 de març de 2014
The effect of neuraminidase inhibitors is analized by a consortium leaded by investigators of the Division of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Nottingham
The results of this meta-analysis, in which Prof. Torres and IAMR have collaborated, have been recently published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal
This study includes 29 234 patients from 78 studies of patients admitted to hospital between Jan 2, 2009, and March 14, 2011. Authors found that neuraminidase inhibitor treatment, compared with no treatment, was associated with a reduction in mortality risk ( p=0,0024). Compared with later treatment, early treatment (within 2 days of symptom onset) was associated with a reduction in mortality risk (p<0,0001). Early treatment versus no treatment was also associated with a reduction in mortality (p<0,0001). These associations with reduced mortality risk were less pronounced and not significant in children. Importantly, authors found an increase in the mortality hazard rate with each day's delay in initiation of treatment up to day 5 as compared with treatment initiated within 2 days of symptom onset (p<0,0001 for the increasing HR with each day's delay).
In conclusion, this meta-analysis advocates the early instigation of neuraminidase inhibitors treatment in adults admitted to hospital with suspected or proven influenza infection. Complete access to the results and methods of this meta-analysis are available in Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal. Prof. Antoni Torres is one of the authors and has contributed with data from the intensive respiratory unit that he leads at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.