Yu-Chi Kuo1, Chih-Cheng Lai2, Ya-Hui Wang3, Chao-Hsien Chen4, Cheng-Yi Wang5. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Hospital, Chiali, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: kuo1642000@gmail.com. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Tainan Branch, Tainan, Taiwan. Electronic address: dtmed141@gmail.com. 3. Medical Research Center, Cardinal Tien Hospital and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: yhwang531@gmail.com. 4. Division of Pulmonary, Department of Internal Medicine, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: stardust.macaque@gmail.com. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital and School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: cywang@mospital.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of baloxavir with other anti-influenza agents or placebo in the treatment of influenza. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane databases and clinical registration were searched from inception until February 15 2021 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Only phase 3 RCTs evaluating the usefulness of baloxavir in the treatment of influenza were included. RESULTS: Three RCTs enrolling 3771 patients (baloxavir group, n = 1451; oseltamivir group, n = 1288; placebo group, n = 1032) were included. Compared with oseltamivir, baloxavir had an insignificantly shorter time to the alleviation of symptoms (mean difference [MD], -1.29 h; 95% CI, -6.80 to 4.21; I2 = 0%). In contrast, baloxavir had a significantly shorter time to the alleviation of symptoms than placebo (MD, -26.32 h; 95% CI, -33.78 to -18.86; I2 = 0%). Baloxavir was associated with a significant decline in influenza virus titers and viral RNA load compared to oseltamivir and placebo. Baloxavir was associated with a lower risk of any adverse events than oseltamivir (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.98; I2 = 0%) and placebo (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66-0.96; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this meta-analysis suggested that baloxavir is superior to placebo in the treatment of influenza in both clinical outcome and virological response. Moreover, baloxavir was found to have a better virological response than oseltamivir and to be as effective as oseltamivir clinically. Compared with oseltamivir and placebo, baloxavir appears to be a relatively safe anti-influenza agent.
PURPOSE: The aim of this meta-analysis is to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of baloxavir with other anti-influenza agents or placebo in the treatment of influenza. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane databases and clinical registration were searched from inception until February 15 2021 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Only phase 3 RCTs evaluating the usefulness of baloxavir in the treatment of influenza were included. RESULTS: Three RCTs enrolling 3771 patients (baloxavir group, n = 1451; oseltamivir group, n = 1288; placebo group, n = 1032) were included. Compared with oseltamivir, baloxavir had an insignificantly shorter time to the alleviation of symptoms (mean difference [MD], -1.29 h; 95% CI, -6.80 to 4.21; I2 = 0%). In contrast, baloxavir had a significantly shorter time to the alleviation of symptoms than placebo (MD, -26.32 h; 95% CI, -33.78 to -18.86; I2 = 0%). Baloxavir was associated with a significant decline in influenza virus titers and viral RNA load compared to oseltamivir and placebo. Baloxavir was associated with a lower risk of any adverse events than oseltamivir (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.98; I2 = 0%) and placebo (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.66-0.96; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this meta-analysis suggested that baloxavir is superior to placebo in the treatment of influenza in both clinical outcome and virological response. Moreover, baloxavir was found to have a better virological response than oseltamivir and to be as effective as oseltamivir clinically. Compared with oseltamivir and placebo, baloxavir appears to be a relatively safe anti-influenza agent.