[Asthma mortality: consequences for therapy?].

Reports on an increase in asthma deaths in New Zealand in the late 1970s have led to a series of case-control studies aimed at identifying possible reasons for increased asthma mortality. The most intriguing finding was association of the use of beta 2-agonists as metered dose inhalers with death from asthma. Although these epidemiologic studies cannot definitely identify the cause of the increased asthma mortality, they have stimulated widespread discussion and reevaluation of therapeutic strategies. The reliability of the mortality data and the role of beta 2-agonists in this context are discussed.