Circumstances surrounding deaths from asthma in Cook County (Chicago) Illinois.

摘要: The death rate from asthma has been increasing in the U.S. and many other countries is considered unacceptably high. There little information as to circumstances surrounding these fatalities that would lead effective interventions prevent deaths. In this study, cases of deaths Office Medical Examiner Cook County, (Chicago), Illinois were identified subjects 45 years age or less who died asthma. We reviewed clinical deaths, contacted surviving kin, friends, informants, autopsy findings toxicologic results. Deaths classified (1) asthma, (2) probably (3) indeterminate cause, (4) coincidental but not From 39 one pathologist's during 1985-1992, 22/39 (56.4%) cases. Eight (20.5%) because a positive unknown prodrome which results positive. Nine (23.1%) absence increased symptoms associated with Overall 23 where some testing was performed, 14 (60.8%) positive, individually combination, for cocaine, benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolite), codeine, phencyclidine (animal tranquilizer), morphine, methadone, ethanol (> 0.8 g/L). Out-of-hospital complicated by high incidence illicit drug use, lack identifiable managing physicians, antiinflammatory medications, having examined physician past year.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)