ASTHMA (J45-J46)
Asthma is a disease which causes narrowing of the airways into the lung causing breathing difficulties. In 2008, Asthma (J45-J46) was the underlying cause for 449 registered deaths, or 0.3% of all deaths. Asthma was identified as either an underlying cause or associated cause of death for 1,472 deaths registered in 2008.
The standardised death rate for Asthma was 1.9 per 100,000 population in 2008, a decrease from 2.3 per 100,000 population in 1999. The standardised death rate for males in 2008 was 1.7 per 100,000 and 2.0 per 100,000 for females.
Median age at death for deaths due to Asthma was 74.3 years for males, 82.4 years for females and 80.3 years overall. The potential life lost due to asthma deaths was 2,664 years for males and 2,180 years for females.
In 98% of cases where Asthma was the underlying cause of death, it was not specified whether this was attributed to allergic or non allergic asthma. Asthma was the underlying cause of death for almost twice as many females as males in 2008 with 59 male deaths for every 100 female deaths.
Quality Declaration 
Print Page
Print All