[Adult bronchial asthma in Japan]

The first nationwide research to disclose the actual state of the adult bronchial asthma in Japan covered 2,832 patients who visited hospitals during the time of investigation, and who answered questionnaire. They were asked about their present state of asthma and experience of treatment for acute asthmatic attacks etc. Physicians in various institutions were asked to state their experience regarding corticosteroid therapy for them as well as asthmatic deaths among their patients per year. The male:female ratio was 1,368 (48.3%): 1,464 (51.7%). Concerning age, 24.4% of patients were in their 50s, 22.6% were in their 60s and 56% of patients were in the 30 to 60 age group and 79.8% were adult-onset asthma, a total of 80% needed regular medications and 30% were corticosteroid dependent, what 76.9%, 43.1% and 4.8% of the patients had experienced treatment by DIV, oxygen therapy and controlled ventilation for acute asthmatic attacks, respectively. Among the 3 groups, 59.5%, 51.7% and 24.8 of the patients had experienced of admission to hospital, visiting an emergency rooms at night or being rushed to hospital ambulance of the total, 48.1% were diagnosed as mild asthma, 38.2% as moderate and 12.7% were diagnosed as severe asthma. The 41 deaths due to acute asthmatic attack in one year represented 0.29% of all adult asthmatic patients visiting those hospitals in one year. Deaths at home or on the way to the hospital were much greater in number than after hospitalization.