Why are deaths from asthma increasing?

Asthma mortality rates have declined only slowly since 1960, and recently have increased in some countries. Deaths in New Zealand's 5-34 year olds showed a sustained increase from 1977 to 1982. In the western United States, asthma mortality in older subjects increased from 1979 to 1982. In 15-44 year olds in England and Wales, mortality rates for females are now lower than in 1960, but rates for males are not. Current asthma mortality rates for …