title: Age specific trends in asthma mortality in England and Wales, 1983-95: results of an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine trends in asthma mortality by age group in England and Wales during 1983-95.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  England and Wales.
  
  
  METHODS
  All deaths classified as having an underlying cause of asthma registered from 1 January 1983 to 31 December 1995.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time trends for age specific asthma deaths.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Deaths in the age group 5-14 years showed an irregular downward trend during 1983-95; deaths in the age groups 15-44, 45-64, and 65-74 years peaked before 1989 and then showed a downward trend; and deaths in the age group 75-84 years peaked between 1988 and 1993 and subsequently dropped. Trends were: age group 5-14 years, 6% (95% confidence interval 3% to 9%); 15-44 years, 6% (5% to 7%); 45-64 years, 5% (4% to 6%); 65-74 years, 2% (1% to 3%). Deaths in the 75-84 and 85 and over categories plateaued.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are downward trends in asthma mortality in Britain, which may be due to increased use of prophylactic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Southampton University, Department of Medical Statistics and Computing, Southampton General Hospital. m.j.campbell@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Cogman
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Holgate
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D015996:Survival Rate; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology