Flu Antiviral Treatment Rates Vary Across U.S. Hospitals

A new study reveals that 14 percent of influenza patients lacked antiviral treatment upon emergency department admission.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in COVID-19

Isometric editorial illustration of a stainless-steel IV stand and glass medical vial, representing medical treatment data analysis. — A retrospective study of nearly 500,000 patients found that 14 percent of hospitalized adults did not receive antiviral influenza treatment in emergency departments. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A retrospective study of 483,459 hospitalized adults from 2016 to 2025 found that 14 percent did not receive antiviral treatment in emergency departments. Findings published on September 26, 2026, show significant regional disparities in care across the United States.

Why it matters

Understanding treatment gaps is critical to improving outcomes, as the study identified that 2.55 percent of the cohort died during their hospitalization. The results highlight how geographic location influences the likelihood of receiving timely care.

The study analyzed 483,459 hospitalized adults, with 85.35 percent of the cohort aged over 50 years and 2.55 percent experiencing mortality. Oseltamivir was the primary therapy, administered to 98.99 percent of patients who received antiviral treatment.

The players

The Journal of Emergency Medicine

This peer-reviewed academic publication provides scientific discourse on emergency medical care and research.

Epic Cosmos

This platform aggregates clinical data from thousands of healthcare organizations to support large-scale medical research.

The details

Researchers utilized Epic Cosmos electronic health record data to track influenza trends identified through diagnostic codes and laboratory results. The data revealed that patients in the South and West faced lower odds of treatment compared to those in the Northeast.

2016-2020: Treatment rates remained between 85.14 and 91.08 percent.
2020: Antiviral treatment rates reached 91 percent.
2021: Antiviral treatment rates dropped to 73 percent.
2025: Antiviral treatment rates rose to 85 percent.
September 26, 2026: Study published in The Journal of Emergency Medicine.

The Big Picture

This study follows a pattern set by research using the Epic Cosmos database to evaluate longitudinal clinical treatment trends. By aggregating data across vast hospital systems, the research highlights systemic gaps in care that single-facility studies often miss.

Patients should be aware that treatment consistency can vary significantly by region and medical facility. Understanding these patterns may encourage individuals to advocate for standard antiviral protocols when seeking care for severe influenza symptoms.

The takeaway

These findings underscore the necessity of verifying that standardized treatment protocols are applied equitably across different geographic regions. Patients remain the best advocates for their own health by ensuring that evidence-based therapies like oseltamivir are considered during medical visits.