SECULAR TRENDS IN MORTALITY FROM ASTHMA IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG-ADULTS - REPUBLIC-OF-IRELAND, 1970-91

Trends in mortality attributed to asthma in children (0-14 years) and young adults (15-44 years) and the age group 5-34 years were examined for the Republic of Ireland over the period 1970-91. Childhood mortali ty rates were low with no clear trend. A recent rise in asthma mortali ty was observed in the 5-34 year olds but not in the 15-44 year age gr oup. More detailed examination of these rates revealed that the rise i n mortality in the 5-34 year olds derived from the age band 25-34 year s. This increase is masked in the 15-44 year age group by wide fluctua tions in mortality in the age band 35-44 years. A similar discrepancy in asthma mortality trends for the 15-44 and 5-34 year age groups has been reported in Britain. Possible reasons for the recent rise in asth ma mortality in the 25-34 year age group are discussed.