Asthma in New Zealand: implications for North America

In the early 1980s, reports of a significant rise in asthma mortality emanated from New Zealand. Difficulties in accessing medical care, noncompliance with medication, inadequate medical management, lack of patient education, and inadequate recognition of asthma severity have been suggested as factors that may have contributed to the excess of asthma mortality. Asthma mortality has now declined significantly in New Zealand. We traveled to New Zealand to examine why the incidence of asthma deaths declined in that country at the time where it may have continued to rise in North America. We hypothesize that increased patient and physician education, targeting of high-risk socioeconomic groups, and increased public awareness have played a large role in these improved statistics. The measures taken in New Zealand which have involved a cooperative approach between lay organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and medical personnel may be adapted to North America with, it is hoped, similar results.