Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: Influenza represents a significant global public health challenge, imposing a considerable economic burden on patients, families, and society. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that baloxavir marboxil effectively interrupts influenza transmission. This study quantified the societal value of baloxavir marboxil in China by estimating reductions in disease burden, healthcare resource utilization, and associated economic benefits arising from its transmission-blocking effects.
METHODS: We synthesized data from published studies on influenza disease burden, Chinese influenza transmission model, and local Chinese data on outpatient/emergency treatment costs and hospitalization rates. The analysis conducted across three population groups: pediatric patients, otherwise healthy adults, and the elderly, focusing on influenza cases averted, reductions in healthcare resource utilization, and avoided productivity losses.
RESULTS: Compared to a scenario where influenza patients received only oseltamivir, assuming 50% of treated patients received baloxavir marboxil, its use reduced transmission across all age groups, with the most pronounced impact observed among pediatric patients. Baloxavir use was estimated to avert 16.34 million influenza cases. Assuming these averted cases would have received antiviral treatment, use of baloxavir could save CNY 4.14 billion in influenza medication costs. The reduction influenza cases further prevented 720,000 outpatient or emergency visits, saving CNY 640 million in associated treatment costs, and averted 560,000 hospitalizations. This included 370,000 hospitalizations among individuals aged ≥60 years (66% of total averted hospitalizations), saving CNY 8.10 billion in hospitalization costs. Additionally, 22,000 influenza-associated excess deaths were averted. By preventing influenza infections in children, productivity losses due to caregiver absenteeism were reduced by approximately CNY 3.10 billion.
CONCLUSIONS: Baloxavir marboxil significantly interrupts influenza transmission, leading to substantial reductions in influenza cases, healthcare resource utilization, and influenza-associated excess mortality. These reductions translate into considerable economic and societal benefits, indicating baloxavir marboxil’s value as a public health intervention in China.