Hypothermia and mortality and morbidity. An epidemiological analysis.

Abstract

Study objective-The aim was to identify socioeconomic variables associated with deaths and hospital admissions due to hypothermia and to quantify the risk due to ambient outside temperature.Design-The study was

Hypothermia as a cause of death in British Columbia, 1998-2012: a descriptive assessment

“…9 The case fatality proportion for hypothermia also has been shown as negatively associated with temperature, ranging from 13% at temperatures ≥ 15°C to 44% at temperatures of −1°C or lower. 9 Other studies have indicated that the burden of hypothermia-related mortality is greatest for older people, particularly older men. 7,9-13 Ethnicity has been identified as an effect modifier: in North America, age-specific mortality rates are higher for nonwhite populations, with the highest rates occurring among older nonwhite men, followed by older nonwhite women.…”

“…The crude annual hypothermia mortality rate for BC is higher than recent estimates from the United States (0.20 per 100 000 population) 7 and similar to what was reported for New Zealand (0.54 per 100 000 population), 8 but lower than what was reported for the Republic of Ireland (1.81 per 100 000 population). 9 Studies have also indicated that the incidence of injury caused by hypothermia is much higher than that of hypothermia-related mortality. 8,9 This suggests that beyond our review of hypothermia-related deaths, it is likely that there are more BC residents who have suffered important hypothermia-associated morbidity.…”

“…9 Studies have also indicated that the incidence of injury caused by hypothermia is much higher than that of hypothermia-related mortality. 8,9 This suggests that beyond our review of hypothermia-related deaths, it is likely that there are more BC residents who have suffered important hypothermia-associated morbidity. Factors identified as being associated with mortality resulting from hypothermia in BC also have been associated with hypothermia mortality elsewhere in the world.…”

“…Factors identified as being associated with mortality resulting from hypothermia in BC also have been associated with hypothermia mortality elsewhere in the world. [7][8][9][10][11] Although deaths caused by hypothermia are not unique to areas characterized by cold climate, 10,12 it has been shown to be most frequent during the winter months and at cooler temperatures. 9 The case fatality proportion for hypothermia also has been shown as negatively associated with temperature, ranging from 13% at temperatures ≥ 15°C to 44% at temperatures of −1°C or lower.…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11] Although deaths caused by hypothermia are not unique to areas characterized by cold climate, 10,12 it has been shown to be most frequent during the winter months and at cooler temperatures. 9 The case fatality proportion for hypothermia also has been shown as negatively associated with temperature, ranging from 13% at temperatures ≥ 15°C to 44% at temperatures of −1°C or lower. 9 Other studies have indicated that the burden of hypothermia-related mortality is greatest for older people, particularly older men.…”