Dataset Information

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

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).

SUBMITTER: Brandstrom H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4016575 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

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

Brändström Helge H Johansson Göran G Giesbrecht Gordon G GG Ängquist Karl-Axel KA Haney Michael F MF

Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine 20140127

<h4>Background</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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 w ...[more]

PMID: 24460844

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Dataset Information

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

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

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

Similar Datasets

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