Accidental cold-related injury leading to hospitalization in northern Sweden: an eight-year retrospective analysis

Brändström, Helge; Johansson, Göran; Giesbrecht, Gordon G; Ängquist, Karl-Axel; Haney, Michael F

Accidental cold-related injury leading to hospitalization in northern Sweden: an eight-year retrospective analysis

dc.contributor.author	Brändström, Helge
dc.contributor.author	Johansson, Göran
dc.contributor.author	Giesbrecht, Gordon G
dc.contributor.author	Ängquist, Karl-Axel
dc.contributor.author	Haney, Michael F
dc.date.accessioned	2014-04-04T06:58:00Z
dc.date.available	2014-04-04T06:58:00Z
dc.date.issued	2014-01-27
dc.date.updated	2014-04-04T06:58:01Z
dc.description.abstract	Abstract Background Cold injuries are rare but important causes of hospitalization. We aimed to identify the magnitude of cold injury hospitalization, and assess causes, associated factors and treatment routines in a subarctic region. Methods In this retrospective analysis of hospital records from the 4 northernmost counties in Sweden, cases from 2000-2007 were identified from the hospital registry by diagnosis codes for accidental hypothermia, frostbite, and cold-water drowning. Results were analyzed for pre-hospital site events, clinical events in-hospital, and complications observed with mild (temperature 34.9 - 32°C), moderate (31.9 - 28°C) and severe (<28°C), hypothermia as well as for frostbite and cold-water drowning. Results From the 362 cases, average annual incidences for hypothermia, frostbite, and cold-water drowning were estimated to be 3.4/100 000, 1.5/100 000, and 0.8/100 000 inhabitants, respectively. Annual frequencies for hypothermia hospitalizations increased by approximately 3 cases/year during the study period. Twenty percent of the hypothermia cases were mild, 40% moderate, and 24% severe. For 12%, the lowest documented core temperature was 35°C or higher, for 4% there was no temperature documented. Body core temperature was seldom measured in pre-hospital locations. Of 362 cold injury admissions, 17 (5%) died in hospital related to their injuries. Associated co-factors and co-morbidities included ethanol consumption, dementia, and psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusions The incidence of accidental hypothermia seems to be increasing in this studied sub-arctic region. Likely associated factors are recognized (ethanol intake, dementia, and psychiatric diagnosis).
dc.description.version	Peer Reviewed
dc.identifier.citation	Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine. 2014 Jan 27;22(1):6
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1757-7241-22-6
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23398
dc.language.rfc3066	en
dc.rights	open access	en_US
dc.rights.holder	Helge Brändström et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
dc.title	Accidental cold-related injury leading to hospitalization in northern Sweden: an eight-year retrospective analysis
dc.type	Journal Article