Trends in Hospitalizations and Mortality From Asthma in Costa Rica Over a 12- to 15-year Period

Background Little is known about trends in morbidity and/or mortality due to asthma in Latin America. Objective To examine trends in hospitalizations and mortality due to asthma from 1997-2000 to 2011 in Costa Rica. Methods The rates of hospitalization due to asthma were calculated for each sex in 3 age groups from 1997 to 2011. The number of deaths due to asthma was first calculated for all groups and then for each sex in 3 age groups from 2000 to 2011. All analyses were conducted over the entire period and separately for the periods before and after a National Asthma Program (NAP) in 2003. Data also were available for prescriptions for beclomethasone since 2004. All analyses were conducted by using Epi Info. Results Substantial reductions were found in hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma in Costa Ricans (eg, from 25 deaths in 2000 to 5 deaths in 2011). Although, the percentage decrement in the rates of hospitalization for asthma in subjects