Lack of effect of geographic elevation on mortality from asthma

One might expect prevalence of asthma to affect rates of mortality due to asthma. In France, asthma prevalence at 1350 m is less than at sea level. Calculation of asthma mortality rates for blacks and whites 5 to 34 years of age in 1980 for counties in the USA with populated places at elevations of at least 4000 feet disclosed no significant differences from rates at lower elevations. Nevertheless, asthma mortality rates were significantly higher for blacks than whites at both high and low elevations. The asthma death rates per 100,000 general population for elevations less than 4000 feet were .160 for whites and .896 for blacks. Asthma death rates for elevations of at least 4000 feet were .209 for whites and 1.150 for blacks.