Asthma in a country hospital.
All 39 adult asthma admissions to Kaitaia Hospital in 1983 were surveyed. Of 15 patients treated by a doctor prior to admission, only one received treatment likely to abort the attack. Twenty-four patients were supposed to be taking beclomethasone or cromoglycate but only six were taking it regularly with an adequate inhaler technique. The possibility of erratic use of beclomethasone being a contributing factor in the high mortality from asthma in New Zealand is raised. Of 15 patients not taking beclomethasone or cromoglycate, 10 gave a history suggesting they could have benefited from such medication. Twenty-eight of the admissions were thought to have been potentially preventable.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D001507:Beclomethasone; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium; D000420:Albuterol; D011241:Prednisone