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| |  Lower Asthma Mortality Rates May Be Due To Inhaled Corticosteroids MILWAUKEE, WI -- January 12, 2000 -- A recent study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) suggests that a decrease in the asthma mortality rate in Israel may be due to increased use of inhaled corticosteroids, common anti-inflammatory medications used to treat asthma. The JACI is the scientific journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Israeli researchers examined data for asthma-related deaths from 1981-1995, and compared it with sales of inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. The average asthma mortality rate for 5- to 34-year-olds for 1991-1995 decreased by 59.1 percent when compared to the previous four year period (1986-1990). This significant decrease was inversely paralleled by an increase in the sales of inhaled corticosteroids. The sales of inhaled corticosteroids increased almost 60 fold from 1982-1995, while the sales of inhaled bronchodilators did not change significantly during this period. Inhaled corticosteroids are recognized as the medications of choice for the treatment of chronic, persistent asthma by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). They are effective in reducing airway inflammation, hypersensitivity, swelling and mucous production. This class of medication can be safely administered to children and adults with asthma, and prevents both acute asthma episodes as well as long term deterioration in lung function. This study is one of several large epidemiologic studies that suggest an appropriate use of inhaled corticosteroids can significantly reduce mortality from asthma. These results suggest that death rates from asthma can be reduced in other countries through improved medical treatments and prescribing guidelines.
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