There has been an increase in hospital admissions and mortality rates for asthma in several countries. The objectives of this study were to assess hospital morbidity for asthma in Curitiba and mortality rates for asthma in Curitiba and in the State of Paraná. Hospital admissions for asthma in 1994 and 1995 were analyzed among users of SUS-Sistema Único de Saúde (Public health care system) in Curitiba. The authors verified asthma deaths that occurred from 1984 to 1995 in Curitiba and in the State of Paraná. Specific mortality rates for asthma were obtained through a mortality information system (SIM) of the State and City Departments of Health. Population data were obtained from IPARDES (Institute for Demographic and Statistical Information of the State of Paraná). Hospital admissions for asthma represented 0.8% of total admissions and remained unchanged in 1994 and 1995. Mean mortality rates for asthma was 0.24 ± 0.08/100,000 inhabitants aged 5 to 34 years. In 1989, the mortality rate was greater than the positive standard deviation, but was stable in the remaining years. In Curitiba, the mean mortality rate was 0.39 ± 0.28/100,000. Two peaks occurred in 1984 and 1989, respectively 1.04 and 0.81/100,000. Despite an increase in prevalence of asthma and increasing mortality rates in the past years, Curitiba and the State of Paraná remained with stable rates for ages 5 to 34.

Keywords: Asthma. Mortality rates. Morbidity.