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Does the body temperature change in older people?
Ulkü Yapucu Güneş1, Ayten Zaybak
1Fundamentals of Nursing, Ege University School of Nursing, Izmir, Turkey. ulku.gunes@ege.edu.tr
Journal of Clinical Nursing
|August 19, 2008
Summary
Older adults have lower mean body temperatures than the standard 36.5°C reference point. This study highlights the need to consider age when assessing body temperature in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Physiology
- Clinical Thermometry
Background:
- Thermoregulation is impaired in older adults, leading to altered body temperature responses.
- Published data suggest body temperature decreases and shows greater variability with advanced age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the mean axillary body temperatures in an elderly population.
- To assess the suitability of the standard 36.5°C reference point for older individuals.
Main Methods:
- A non-experimental study involving 133 elderly subjects in a nursing home.
- Axillary temperatures measured using mercury-in-glass thermometers at 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m. over three days.
Main Results:
- Mean axillary temperatures ranged from 35.1°C to 36.4°C (95.3°F–97.6°F).
- Younger elderly individuals (65-74) had higher mean temperatures than older groups (75+).
- Mean temperatures were consistently below the 36.5°C reference point.
Conclusions:
- The standard 36.5°C body temperature reference point is inappropriate for assessing older adults.
- Age must be considered when interpreting body temperature, particularly for diagnosing fever in the elderly.
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