Accidental Hypothermia and Related Risk Factors among Trauma Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department

Background: Early detection and management of hypothermia are determinants in the consequences of the injury. Various factors are involved in the progress of accidental hypothermia in these patients. Objectives: This study was done to determine the prevalence of accidental hypothermia and its related factors in trauma patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). Methods: In this prospective observational study, ۱۲۳ trauma patients, who were transferred to the ED of Ayatollah Mosavi hospital, Zanjan, Iran by emergency medical technicians during November ۲۰۱۸, were selected. The patients' core body temperature (CBT) was measured through a calibrated tympanic thermometer on admission, ۳۰ minutes after admission, and at the time of leaving the ED. Personal, clinical, environmental, and caring variables were evaluated as factors associated with hypothermia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression by SPSS۱۶. The significance level was considered to be ۵%. Results: The prevalence of accidental hypothermia in the ED was ۴۳.۱%. The patient's arrival CBT (β: ۰.۳۳۳, P-value <۰.۰۰۱), the length of stay in the ED (β: - ۰.۱۷۴, P-value =۰.۰۱۱), arrival ambient temperature (β: ۰.۱۶۵, P-value =۰.۰۳۹), and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) (β: ۰.۴۱۳, P-value <۰.۰۰۱) were the risk factors identified as predictors of hypothermia.Conclusion: A significant proportion of trauma patients were hypothermic on admission to the ED. Arrival CBT, length of stay in the ED, arrival ambient temperature, and GCS had a significant role in the development or exacerbation of hypothermia. The results of this study highlight the need for giving special attention to the early detection and management of accidental hypothermia among trauma patients in the ED.  

Keywords:

prevalence , accidental hypothermia , injury , core body temperature (CBT) , emergency department (ED)