Introduction - The purpose of this study is to describe recent trends in asthma-related mortality, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits for acute asthma in the Midi-Pyrénées region. Methods - Standardized rates of asthma-related mortality and hospitalization among residents of the Midi-Pyrénées region aged 5 to 44 years were calculated using data from the Center for Epidemiology on Medical Causes of Death and the Medical Information Systems Program. Emergency department visits for asthma were described using data from the Midi-Pyrénées Regional Emergency Observatory. Results - Between 1991 and 2002, the asthma mortality rate among 5- to 44-year-olds decreased in Midi-Pyrénées. The annual number of emergency department visits for asthma increased between 2001 and 2004 among those aged 5–44. However, the proportion of hospitalizations following emergency department visits for asthma decreased during the same period. The annual rate of hospitalizations lasting more than 24 hours for asthma decreased by an average of 8.8% per year between 1998 and 2004. Discussion - These results indicate that residents of Midi-Pyrénées are being hospitalized less and less for acute asthma. This trend could be explained by a recent improvement in asthma care in emergency departments. (R.A.)