Asthma-Related Mortality in the United States of America, 1999-2015: A Multiple Causes of Death Analysis

Publication date: Available online 13 March 2018
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Vijay Kodadhala, Jennifer Obi, Priscilla Wessly, Alem Mehari, R.F. Gillum
BackgroundAsthma mortality based on the underlying cause of death (UCOD) underestimates disease burden.ObjectiveTherefore, in this study, asthma mortality in the US 1999-2015 was analyzed, as well as the pattern of reporting of asthma and its co-morbidities in death certificates, using multiple-cause of death (MCOD) records.MethodsAll 156,517 death certificates with any mention of asthma were analyzed for 1999-2015. Asthma was defined by ICD-10 code J45 based either on the UCOD or MCOD. Annual age-adjusted asthma death rates were computed according to age, gender and race/ethnicity. The 6,304 MCOD coded status asthmaticus (J46) were also examined.ResultsIn years of 1999-2015 a total of 59,067 deaths with UCOD of asthma occurred, of which 37,832 were females and 21,235 were males (F/M = 1.78). A total of 156,517 deaths with MCOD of asthma occurred, of which 101,371 were females and 55,146 were males (F/M=1.83). Hence 37.7% of deaths with any mention of asthma had asthma as the UCOD, 37.3% females and 38.45% males. Percents were White Hispanics (HW), 41.7% in non-Hispanic blacks (NHB) and 36% in non-Hispanic whites (NHW). Between 1999-2015, age adjusted MCOD death rates changed as follows: Females HW -38.1%, NHB -34.1%, and NHW -15.1%; Males HW -28.5%, NHB -21.3% and NHW -25.0%. NHB females and males had the highest MCOD and UCOD rates throughout the period.ConclusionAmong deaths with any mention of asthma, asthma was chosen as UCOD most often in NHBM and least often in NHWF. Age-adjusted MCOD rates declined most in NHWM and least in NHWF.



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