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Mortality from asthma in children 1979-1984
1Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
Annals of Allergy
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Childhood asthma deaths in the USA rose from 1979-1983, with higher rates in boys and Black children. Delays in treatment and underestimation of severity contributed to these pediatric asthma mortality trends.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Epidemiology of Asthma
- Public Health
Background:
- Asthma mortality in children under 15 in the USA showed an increasing trend from 1979 to 1983.
- Higher asthma death rates were observed in boys compared to girls, potentially linked to prevalence differences.
- Disparities in asthma mortality rates were noted between Black and White children, with significantly higher rates in Black children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in childhood asthma deaths in the USA between 1979 and 1984.
- To investigate demographic factors, including race and sex, associated with pediatric asthma mortality.
- To identify potential contributing factors to asthma-related deaths in children and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of national mortality data for asthma deaths in children and adolescents (under 20 years) in the USA.
- Examination of trends over a defined period (1979-1984).
- Comparison of death rates across different age groups, sexes, and racial demographics.
Main Results:
- Asthma deaths in children under 15 increased from 63 in 1979 to 111 in 1983, then slightly decreased to 106 in 1984.
- Asthma death rates were consistently higher in boys and Black children compared to girls and White children, respectively.
- A significant portion (at least 46%) of asthma deaths in individuals under 20 occurred in hospitals, suggesting issues with in-patient care or timing of critical events.
Conclusions:
- Factors contributing to pediatric asthma deaths include delayed or inadequate therapy (e.g., corticosteroids), psychosocial issues affecting treatment compliance, and underestimation of airway obstruction severity.
- Racial disparities in asthma mortality are not fully explained by prevalence differences alone, indicating systemic or treatment-related factors.
- While some asthma deaths are sudden and unavoidable, many may be preventable through improved management and timely intervention.
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