Hypothermia and associated outcomes in seriously injured trauma patients in a predominantly sub-tropical climate

View/ Open
Author(s)
Aitken, LM
Hendrikz, JK
Dulhunty, JM
Rudd, MJ
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2009
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Aim This study aimed to determine factors linked to hypothermia (<35 é in Queensland trauma patients. The relationship of hypothermia with mortality, admission to intensive care and hospital length of stay was also explored. Methods A retrospective analysis of data from the Queensland Trauma Registry was undertaken, and included all patients admitted to hospital for =24 h during 2003 and 2004 with an injury severity score (ISS) > 15. Demographic, injury, environmental, care and clinical status factors were considered. Results A total of 2182 patients were included; 124 (5.7%) had hypothermia on admission to the ...
View more >Aim This study aimed to determine factors linked to hypothermia (<35 é in Queensland trauma patients. The relationship of hypothermia with mortality, admission to intensive care and hospital length of stay was also explored. Methods A retrospective analysis of data from the Queensland Trauma Registry was undertaken, and included all patients admitted to hospital for =24 h during 2003 and 2004 with an injury severity score (ISS) > 15. Demographic, injury, environmental, care and clinical status factors were considered. Results A total of 2182 patients were included; 124 (5.7%) had hypothermia on admission to the definitive care hospital, while a further 156 (7.1%) developed hypothermia during hospitalisation. Factors associated with hypothermia on admission included winter, direct admission to a definitive care hospital, an ISS = 40, a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3 or ventilated and sedated, and hypotension on admission. Hypothermia on admission to the definitive care hospital was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 4.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.26-7.24) and hospital length of stay (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.22; 95% CI 1.03-1.43). Hypothermia during definitive care hospitalisation was independently associated with mortality (OR = 2.52; 95% CI 1.52-4.17), intensive care admission (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.20-2.93) and hospital length of stay (IRR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.02-1.36). Conclusions Trauma patients in a predominantly sub-tropical climate are at risk of accidental and endogenous hypothermia, with associated higher mortality and care requirements. Prevention of hypothermia is important for all severely injured patients.
View less >
View more >Aim This study aimed to determine factors linked to hypothermia (<35 é in Queensland trauma patients. The relationship of hypothermia with mortality, admission to intensive care and hospital length of stay was also explored. Methods A retrospective analysis of data from the Queensland Trauma Registry was undertaken, and included all patients admitted to hospital for =24 h during 2003 and 2004 with an injury severity score (ISS) > 15. Demographic, injury, environmental, care and clinical status factors were considered. Results A total of 2182 patients were included; 124 (5.7%) had hypothermia on admission to the definitive care hospital, while a further 156 (7.1%) developed hypothermia during hospitalisation. Factors associated with hypothermia on admission included winter, direct admission to a definitive care hospital, an ISS = 40, a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3 or ventilated and sedated, and hypotension on admission. Hypothermia on admission to the definitive care hospital was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 4.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.26-7.24) and hospital length of stay (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.22; 95% CI 1.03-1.43). Hypothermia during definitive care hospitalisation was independently associated with mortality (OR = 2.52; 95% CI 1.52-4.17), intensive care admission (OR = 1.73; 95% CI 1.20-2.93) and hospital length of stay (IRR = 1.18; 95% CI 1.02-1.36). Conclusions Trauma patients in a predominantly sub-tropical climate are at risk of accidental and endogenous hypothermia, with associated higher mortality and care requirements. Prevention of hypothermia is important for all severely injured patients.
View less >
Journal Title
Resuscitation
Volume
80
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Clinical sciences
Nursing
Acute care