Asthma can cause sudden death; especially in the young

Despite efforts to provide comprehensive asthma care, mortality rates from asthma continue to rise. In the past 25 years, there has been a significant rise in deaths due to asthma in the United States. African-Americans seem to be more at risk than either whites or Hispanices.

Patient's who experience sudden death from asthma are generally atopic (i.e. prone to allergies, or have inherited genes), can't perceive an impending attack or increased problems with their respirations, and over use their inhalers (i.e. beta agonistic medications) while underusing or being non-compliant with the antiinflammatory medications which provide long term relief.

Most of these deaths occur outside of the hospital, and frequently after a visit to the emergency room. Additionally, the majority of these deaths are in people less than 25 years old. It is felt by many that the death rate is an indictment of the health care system. Although, there are substantiated risk factors, our busy and at times overwhelmed physicians, fail to recognize them, or if they do, have no time to provide the education necessary to prevent exaccerbations, deal with the psychological component related to asthmatic patients, or provide the frequency of visits to monitor compliance with treatment/progress of illness.

Ten percent of non-violent deaths in children are due to asthma. The attacks generally occur in the early morning hours, with the person awaking due to asphyxiation. Unconsciousness occurs so rapidly that the person is unable to summon help. If a person recovers from such an attack, it is highly likely they will have others in the future.

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1. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Practical guide for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Based on the expert panel report 2: guideline for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Bethesda, Md: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/practgde.htm Accessed August 16, 2005.