Diagnosis and treatment of influenza based on health insurance claims between the 2010–2011 and 2019–2020 influenza seasons in Japan

Medical practices for influenza virus infection vary among countries. In Japan, treatment with anti‐influenza drugs is recommended for patients diagnosed with influenza. This health claims database study provides quantitative information aimed at describing the actual medical practices, including diagnostic testing and medication use, for managing influenza in Japan. Most patients diagnosed with influenza underwent diagnostic tests and were prescribed anti‐influenza drugs. Meanwhile, the majority of patients prescribed anti‐influenza drugs had undergone diagnostic testing. However, an increase in the percentage of anti‐influenza prescriptions without diagnostic testing was observed during the 2019–2020 influenza season, which may be associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic.