Ten-year study on spa therapy in 329 patients with bronchial asthma

The background of 329 asthma patients admitted to our hospital over the last 10 years was analyzed in relation to the use of and necessity for spa therapy. 1. Both the proportion and the number of asthma patients admitted to our hospital to have spa therapy have increased over the last 5 years. 2. Although the proportion of patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma (SDIA) decreased over the last 5 years, the total number of these patients has increased in recent years. 3. The proportion and the number of patients over the age of 60 or over the age of 40 at onset increased over the last 5 years. 4. Although the proportion of patients with types Ib and II decreased over the last 5 years, the total number of these patients has increased in recent years. 5. The clinical effects of spa therapy differed according to the type of therapy used. The mean efficacy rate of spa therapy A (administered from 1982-1985) was 68.2%; this rate was 87.5% for spa therapy B (1986 to 1989), and 94.3% in spa therapy C (1990 to 1991). These results show that the number of patients with SDIA and those over the age of 60 and/or over the age of 40 at onset whose asthma requires spa therapy has increased, and that spa therapy C is the most suitable one for the treatment of bronchial asthma.