A clinical study of mortality due to asthma.

BACKGROUND

Despite identification of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of asthma and improvement in therapy, asthma mortality has not decreased in recent years.

OBJECTIVE

The pathophysiology and asthma-related death preventive measures were investigated with a physician-based questionnaire survey.

METHODS

Questionnaires were sent to physicians primarily involved in treating asthma in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The clinical characteristics of 32 patients who died of asthma (fatal cases) from 1984 to 1992 were compared with those of 17 patients with severe asthma who survived as a result of treatment by mechanical ventilation (nearly fatal cases).

RESULTS

The number of deaths due to asthma increased in the last 2 years. Fatal cases and nearly fatal cases included patients with severe asthma as well as patients with mild asthma. Analysis of the clinical histories of patients judged to have died suddenly revealed the presence of persistent wheezing in these patients for a few days prior to the fatal episode. Airway obstruction was more marked and bronchial hyperresponsiveness was greater in fatal cases compared with those of a group of 70 patients without a history of nearly fatal acute asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

The following measures may help prevent asthma deaths. Both patients and physicians should realize that even mild episodes can lead to severe, even fatal acute asthma. The severity of asthma should be evaluated not only by symptoms and peak expiratory flow rates but also bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Treatment should include reduction of bronchial hyperresponsiveness using oral or inhaled corticosteroids.