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Hypothermia with indoor occurrence is associated with a worse outcome

B Mégarbane1, O Axler, I Chary

  • 1Department of Medical Intensive Care Unit and Medical Emergency, Antoine Béclère Hospital, Clamart, France. bruno-megarbane@wanadoo.fr

Intensive Care Medicine
|March 29, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for hypothermia face a higher mortality risk if found indoors. This study highlights indoor hypothermia as a significant predictor of poor outcomes, even with similar body temperatures.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Environmental Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Hypothermia, a dangerous drop in body temperature, affects numerous patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).
  • Understanding the factors influencing hypothermia outcomes is crucial for improving patient care and survival rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize patients admitted to the ICU for hypothermia.
  • To identify prognostic factors associated with hypothermia.
  • To investigate whether the location where hypothermia occurred (indoors vs. outdoors) impacts patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective analysis of 81 consecutive ICU patients with a body temperature ≤35°C over 17 years.
  • Patients were categorized based on whether hypothermia occurred indoors or outdoors.
  • Prognostic factors were assessed using univariate and stepwise logistic regression analyses.

Main Results:

  • The primary complications included acute renal failure (43%), aspiration pneumonia (22%), and rhabdomyolysis (22%).
  • Indoor hypothermia patients (79%) had comorbidities like sepsis and neuropsychiatric disorders, unlike outdoor patients (21%) with intoxication.
  • Illness severity (SAPS II ≥ 40) and indoor location independently predicted mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Patients experiencing hypothermia indoors exhibit more severe illness and higher mortality rates compared to those found outdoors.
  • The location of hypothermia occurrence is a critical prognostic indicator in the ICU setting.
Abstract

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