Asthma: a provincial study.
To identify factors contributing to increased mortality and morbidity we prospectively evaluated 200 consecutive adult (greater than 17 years) asthmatic presentations (105 patients) referred to Gisborne Hospital over a 28 month period between 1985 and 1987 using a modified protocol adapted from previous national studies. In the moderate asthmatic group (113 presentations, 56%), 6% failed to use beta agonists prior to admission and 43% were not on regular steroid inhaler therapy. No patient had a crisis plan although 45 (22.5%) had received oral steroid therapy before admission. Poor drug compliance was twice as common in the Maori. Fifty-eight percent of patients were on regular long term oral theophylline whereas 48 (43%) patients with moderate and severe asthma were not on corticosteroid inhalers. We conclude that patient education and more liberal use of steroid inhalers have the greatest potential for improving morbidity and mortality.
Medical Department, Gisborne Hospital.
J
J
Reddy
M E
ME
Kingston
C
C
Duffy
J
J
Williams
B
B
Ram
P C
PC
Sizeland
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044465:White People
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D013806:Theophylline