[Results of the 2023-2024 「Winter Cold-related Illness Emergency Room Surveillance System」]

Since 2013, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has monitored the occurrence of cold-related illnesses (e.g., hypothermia, frostbite, chilblains, immersion disease, and immersion foot disease) every winter (i.e., December to February of the following year), targeting over 500 emergency medical institutions nationwide. A total of 507 institutions nationwide participated in the 2023-2024 seasonal cold-related illness surveillance system (as of December 2023). During the operation period (i.e., December 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024), 400 cases of cold-related illness were reported, ultimately with 12 patients presumed to have died. The total number of patients decreased by 10.5% (47 patients) compared to that of the previous year (447 patients). The national average temperature in the winter of 2023 (December 2023-February 2024) was 2.4℃, which was 1.9℃ higher than the annual average of 0.5℃. A temporary cold wave occurred in mid-to-late December 2023 and late January due to the influx of cold air from the North Pole. Most patients with cold-related illnesses were male (268 patients, 67.0%), over 80 years old (132 patients, 33.0%), and unemployed (147 patients, 36.8%). The most common location of occurrence was on the roadside (86 patients, 21.5%), followed by home (72 patients, 18.0%) and residential areas (57 patients, 14.3%). The occurrence time was continuous throughout the day; however, 34.5% (138 patients) of all cases occurred during morning activity hours from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Of all patients, 21.3% (85 patients) were intoxicated upon presentation, and the most common cold-related illness was hypothermia (318 patients, 79.5%).