Asthma Mortality and Management Strategies
Summary
Asthma remains a significant contributor to global mortality despite advances in pharmacotherapy and structured care pathways. Mortality rates show marked variability by region, age and socioeconomic status, reflecting disparities in access to inhaled corticosteroids, emergency care and guided self-management. Key risk factors include a history of near-fatal asthma, underuse of preventer medications, comorbid conditions such as diabetes or pneumonia, and poor adherence to personalised action plans. Effective strategies combine regular monitoring of lung function, optimisation of anti-inflammatory therapy, prompt recognition of deteriorating control and tailored education. Emerging approaches harness digital technology for remote symptom and peak expiratory flow monitoring, risk stratification algorithms and targeted interventions in high-risk subgroups. Holistic management that addresses psychosocial factors and comorbidity alongside standard treatment protocols is central to reducing preventable deaths and improving outcomes worldwide.
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Asthma Mortality and Management Strategies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in asthma mortality and management strategies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Near-fatal asthma: A severe asthma attack requiring intubation or mechanical ventilation.
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS): Anti-inflammatory medications delivered via inhaler to control airway inflammation.
Short-acting β2-agonists (SABA): Bronchodilators that provide rapid relief of acute bronchoconstriction.
Oral corticosteroids (OCS): Systemic anti-inflammatory drugs used for short-term control of severe exacerbations.
Guided self-management: A structured approach combining personalised action plans, regular monitoring and education to enable patients to adjust therapy.
Peak expiratory flow (PEF): The maximum speed of expiration, measured to monitor asthma control and detect deterioration.
References
- Asthma-related deaths. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine (2016).
- Independent risk factors for death in patients admitted for asthma exacerbation in Taiwan. npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine (2020).
- A Meta-Analysis on Predictors of Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for Acute Exacerbation of Asthma. Cureus (2023).
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