Withdrawal of fenoterol and the end of the New Zealand asthma mortality epidemic.
In response to the evidence that fenoterol was a major cause for the second epidemic of asthma deaths in New Zealand, the Department of Health severely restricted its availability, thereby allowing an 'experiment in prevention' to be undertaken. These regulatory actions, which effectively removed fenoterol from the market in New Zealand, were associated with a sudden and marked reduction in asthma mortality, providing further evidence for a causative role of fenoterol in the epidemic of asthma deaths in New Zealand.
Beasley
R
R
Department of Medicine, Wellington School of Medicine, New Zealand.
Pearce
N
N
Crane
J
J
Burgess
C
C
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000401:mortality*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005280:Fenoterol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D005280:Fenoterol