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Urban hypothermia and hyperglycemia in the elderly
Z Duraković1, M Misigoj-Duraković, N Corović
1Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Rebro, Zagreb, Croatia.
Collegium Antropologicum
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Elderly patients with urban hypothermia often present with altered consciousness and abnormal blood pressure. Severe hypothermia cases frequently show elevated blood glucose levels.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Urban hypothermia affects elderly individuals, presenting unique clinical challenges.
- Hypothermia in the elderly is associated with significant morbidity, including altered mental status and cardiovascular compromise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical characteristics and metabolic profiles of elderly patients treated for urban hypothermia.
- To analyze the relationship between hypothermia severity and presenting physiological parameters.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 18 elderly patients (66-87 years) treated for urban hypothermia between December 1993 and March 1999.
- Assessment of consciousness, arterial blood pressure, and blood glucose levels in relation to hypothermia severity (moderate vs. severe).
Main Results:
- Patients presented with varying degrees of altered consciousness, from somnolence to coma.
- Hypotension and shock were prevalent, particularly in severe hypothermia cases.
- Elevated blood glucose levels were common in both moderate and severe hypothermia, with one case of hypoglycemia-induced coma.
Conclusions:
- Urban hypothermia in the elderly is a serious condition often accompanied by significant physiological derangements.
- Metabolic disturbances, particularly hyperglycemia, are frequently observed in hypothermic elderly patients.
- Prompt recognition and management of hypothermia and its associated complications are crucial in this population.