Abstract
Introduction: Deaths attributed to asthma in the city of São Paulo, Brazil have decreased since 2005. We have previously reported the clinical characteristics of asthmatics autopsied in the city of Sao Paulo from 1996-2004 (Mauad, 2008). Our aim was to describe the clinical characteristics of 51 fatal asthmatics autopsied in Sao Paulo from 2005 to 2009.
Methods: Fifty-one patients who were autopsied at the Death Verification Service of Sao Paulo from 2005-2009 and had deaths confirmed macro and microscopically as due to status asthmaticus were studied. An interview with the next of kin assessed demographics, history and treatment of asthma and events surrounding the last attack; written informed consent was obtained from the next of kin.
Results: There were 28 females and 23 males, with a median age of 50 years (range 20-73). Thirty-nine patients were whites and 26 patients had at least 8 years of education. Thirty-one individuals were non-smokers, 11 were current smokers and 9 were ex-smokers. The age at onset of asthma <12 years was reported in 51% of the cases and 30 patients did not have regular medical follow-up. Seven individuals used inhaled corticosteroids and 45 used regular short-acting bronchodilators. Seventeen patients had been hospitalized due to asthma in the previous year and 8 had been admitted to an intensive care unit. The duration of the last exacerbation was >24 hours for 55% of the patients. These characteristics are similar to those described for asthmatics deceased from 1996-2004.
Conclusion: Fatal asthmatics deceased in the city of São Paulo from 2005-2009 have similar characteristics to those deceased from 1996-2004, despite of a decreasing number of asthma deaths.
- © 2011 ERS
