Background: Asthma morbidity and mortality have been increasing. Data of asthma and respiratory mortality rates in Brazil are scarse.
Methods: We studied asthma and respiratory disease mortality rates in the state of So Paulo (capital and country side) from 1970 to 1996, as its relation with sales of drugs usually used in asthma treatment.
Results: Asthma mortality in the 5-34-year age group has doubled in the state of So Paulo (0.2 deaths/100,000 inhabitants in 1970 to 0.4 in 1996), mainly by its increase in the capital. The greatest increase was observed in the population of up to 15 years of age. The sales of inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs are proportionally very low and reflect a greater concern about the treatment of acute exacerbations.
Conclusion: We believe that the institution of a public health supply to the whole population could provide better conditions for the control of those indexes.