[Mortality due to asthma in the city of Barcelona (1983-1993)]

To find asthma mortality in the city of Barcelona.

Descriptive study of mortality.

City of Barcelona.

Deaths due to asthma in the city of Barcelona in the period 1983-1993 were studied through the register of mortality at Barcelona's Municipal Institute of Health, which in turn is supplied by the Statistical Gazette of Deaths. Rates of mortality per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated, overall and broken down by sex and by age. The ratio of mortality comparing city districts and the place and season of decease was also worked out.

There were 716 deaths due to asthma (overall rate of 3.82/100,000 inhabitants; 3.3 in men and 4.33 in women). Almost two-thirds of deaths occurred in people over 65. Mortality was stable in the entire period except in the over-65s, in which a downwards trend was discerned (beta=-0.63; P=.037). For the 5-34 year old group, the rate oscillated between 0.1 and 0.6/100,000 inhabitants. The number of deaths in the over-65s was greater in winter (31.7%; 95% CI, 27.8-35.7). 56.2% of deaths occurred at home. Hospital deaths were more common among women (P<.001) and the under-65s, and their trend is upwards (P=.004).

Asthma mortality in the city of Barcelona was stable during the period studied. Its rate for the 5-34 year-old age group was higher than for Spain and slightly greater than in similar nearby countries.