[The mortality associated with asthma in Québec 1975-1985]

In the last decade, mortality from asthma has increased in most industrialized countries. The analysis of death certificates from 1975 to 1985 for the province of Québec shows a 28.6% increase in deaths associated with asthma, from 1.43 to 1.84 per 100,000 population. Although the mortality rate from asthma is higher in older patients, a steady increase in mortality rates from asthma have been observed in younger asthmatics (less than 35 years old), with rates going from 0.24 to 0.37 per 100,000. The number of deaths has recently increased more rapidly in women and is not different in rural and urban areas. On the other hand, the number of asthma-related hospitalisations has been stable from 1980 to 1985. This increase in mortality from asthma has been considered multifactorial but stresses the importance of improving asthma control. Proposed solutions to improve this situation, such as patient education on asthma and its treatment, regular measurement of expiratory flows, identification of "at-risk" patients and optimization of the treatment are discussed.