title: A confidential inquiry into asthma deaths in Wales.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Death from asthma is regarded as preventable in principle, especially under the age of 65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 1994 a confidential inquiry was set up to investigate deaths attributable to asthma in residents of Wales under the age of 65 years. During the period of the inquiry 92 cases were notified as being ascribed to asthma, or (in 1996) having a mention of asthma on the death certificate. Of these, 80 were investigated further with the help of general practitioners, hospital notes, and relatives. The details were then considered by a small panel of doctors who endeavoured to identify factors that may have contributed to the deaths.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asthma was considered to be the underlying cause of 52 deaths. Although disease severity was usually a major factor, some aspect of the patient's behaviour or circumstances seemed to have contributed to 31 deaths, while in 15 cases there was probably a deficiency in medical care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some preventable asthma deaths still occur, particularly in relation to inadequate treatment. Factors associated with patients' behaviour and circumstances are more difficult to tackle but, if doctors are aware of high risk patients, increased vigilance may prevent some deaths.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Applied Public Health Medicine, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Burr
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoare
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Holgate
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arthurs
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Hodges
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology