Death from asthma: Rare but real

Risk factors for death in patients with severe asthma

“…A better understanding of the risk factors for mortality in asthma will allow the development of measures that are more effective in preventing deaths from the disease. ( 8 ) The known risk factors for death from asthma as are follows: greater asthma severity ( 7 , 9 ) ; a lack of continuity in medical visits ( 8 , 10 ) ; adverse socioeconomic or psychosocial conditions ( 7 , 9 , 11 ) ; and poor practices in the approach to treating the disease (lack of access to effective therapies, non-adherence to treatment, and inadequate management of the symptoms).…”

“…O melhor entendimento dos fatores associados aos óbitos por asma permitirá uma melhor definição das estratégias preventivas para evitar eventos fatais. ( 8 ) Os fatores de risco atribuídos às mortes por asma são os seguintes: a maior gravidade da doença ( 7 , 9 ) ; a descontinuidade dos cuidados médicos ( 8 , 10 ) ; situações socioeconômicas e psicossociais adversas ( 7 , 9 , 11 ) ; e a conduta frente à doença (falta de acesso a terapia eficaz, má adesão à terapêutica e manejo inadequado da asma).…”

Respiratory Disorders

“…28 ,29 Data for the USA indicate that asthma mortality rates reached a nadir in 1977 but have progressively increased since then. 30 The reasons for this increase are uncertain, but rising levels of urban air pollution, indoor air pollution with second hand tobacco smoke, overuse of inhaled bronchodilators, changing social and economic factors and limited access to health care have all been proposed as possible causes. 31 -34 It is noteworthy, however, that the increase in asthma hospitalization rates and mortality rates have not been evenly distributed across all localities in the USA.…”

Comparing the performance of two indices for spatial model selection: application to two mortality data

“…Some studies point out that this recent increase may relate to environmental and genetic factors [16][17][18]. Some studies search for the implications for public health preventive strategies [19; 20] or focus on the evaluation of the e ectiveness of existing intervention programs [21][22][23]. Before the formation and advocation of public health policy to residents in certain regions, it must be identiÿed that certain areas are at higher risks than others and thus deserve more attention.…”

“…Therefore, if the intervention programme can only be applied in a few areas, the choice will depend heavily on the correct model used. Once the areas at higher risks are identiÿed, further studies on its medical resources, availability of timely emergency care, and design of intervention programmes can be carried out [21][22][23].…”