Mortality from respiratory disease at follow-up of patients with asthma.

Over a 20-year period 765 men and 1127 women with asthma were followed up; 272 men and 282 women died compared with expected deaths of 165 men and 185 women. As anticipated there was an appreciable number of deaths attributed to asthma but an even higher absolute excess of deaths attributed to bronchitis when compared with the expected numbers. The relative excess from asthma and bronchitis was highest in the younger subjects. Mortality from all other causes was lower than expected.