title: Disparities in the circumstances of asthma deaths in Maryland.
abstract: The reasons for significant disparities in asthma mortality are unclear. Maryland vital statistics and medical examiner data were used to examine timing, location, and circumstances of asthma deaths. We found that unexplained deaths increased substantially over the past 10 years and that young, male, and black asthmatics were more likely to die before hospital admission. Factors contributing to disparities included better availability of anti-inflammatory medications among whites versus blacks, and a higher incidence of positive toxicology screens among males versus females. Disparities in asthma mortality might be reduced through efforts to optimize asthma treatment and reduce illicit drug use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 660 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Wlane@epi.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Wendy G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blaisdell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents