Recent Trends and Future Issues of Asthma Mortality in Japan

Analysis of data on asthma deaths from the vital statistics throughout Japan and deaths from asthma attacks in six prefectures of Tohoku district provided information on recent trends and insight into possible future issues about asthma deaths in Japan. The vital statistics throughout Japan show a favorable downward trend in the number of asthma deaths in Japan since 1997. In particular, the asthma mortality rate among persons aged 5 to 34 years was less than 0.3 per 100,000 in 2001. In addition, the number of deaths from asthma attacks decreased more rapidly in the Tohoku district and the rate of reduction was correlated with an increase in the sales of inhaled corticosteroids and anti-leukotrienes but not in the sales of inhaled short-acting β-agonists. Moreover, in the 5 year period from 1997 through 2001 it was clear that the number of asthma deaths in persons 75 years and older and those 60 years and older accounted for 61-66% and 86-88%, respectively, of the deaths in persons of all ages. Therefore, the most important future issue about asthma deaths in Japan should be to focus efforts on decreasing the number of asthma deaths in older persons.