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Accidental Hypothermia in a Swiss Alpine Trauma Centre-Not an Alpine Problem.
Katrin Habegger1, Simon Brechbühler1, Karin Vogt2
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|September 9, 2022
Summary
Accidental hypothermia often co-occurs with other medical issues, not just cold exposure. Understanding these combinations is crucial for managing hypothermia patients and improving survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Toxicology
- Critical Care
Background:
- Accidental hypothermia research typically focuses on trauma, cold exposure, or drowning.
- Limited research addresses hypothermia in conjunction with intoxications or underlying medical/neurological conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diverse aetiologies of accidental hypothermia.
- To determine the severity, incidence, and mortality rates associated with accidental hypothermia.
- To analyze temperature measurement methods and in-hospital mortality.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective single-centre cohort study.
- Inclusion of patients aged 18 years and above with documented body temperature ≤35 °C.
- Data collected from the emergency department (ED) between 2000 and 2019.
Main Results:
- 439 cases of accidental hypothermia were identified (0.32 per 1000 ED visits).
- Hypothermia frequently occurred with trauma (32.6%), medical conditions (34.2%), intoxications (20.3%), and drowning (12.0%).
- Overall in-hospital mortality was 22.3%, influenced by aetiology, severity, age, and sex.
Conclusions:
- Accidental hypothermia is often multifactorial, involving co-existing medical, neurological, or toxicological conditions.
- The aetiology and severity of hypothermia significantly impact patient outcomes and mortality.
- Further research is needed to optimize management strategies for complex hypothermia cases.
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