A ten-year review of asthma deaths at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
A retrospective study was made of forty-nine patients certified as dying from asthma in order to identify potentially avoidable factors. Forty-nine per cent of the deaths were due to delay in seeking medical help by patients or relations. Other factors identified as contributing to the asthma deaths included inadequate objective assessment of airway function, as well as inadequate administration of corticosteroids. Education of patients and general practitioners, as well as speedy referral to specialized units will help reduce the gap between diagnostic and therapeutic knowledge and its application in a developing country like Nigeria.
Bandele
E O
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Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies