engleski

Hyperglycemia due to urban hypothermia in the elderly

In the period from 1993 to 1999 we treated 18 elderly patients, 11 women and seven men, aged 66-88 years, suffering from urban hypothermia. Ten patients suffered from moderate hypothermia (rectal temperature 32-35^oC), and eight from severe hypothermia (rectal temperature <32^oC). Regarding consciousness, in the group suffering from moderate hypothermia, three were somnolent and six in various degrees of comatose states. In the group suffering from severe hypothermia, three patients were somnolent or soporous and five were in comatose states of various degrees. Values of arterial blood pressure in the group with moderate hypothermia was normal in one, three had arterial hypotension and six were in a state of shock. In the group with severe hypothermia, four presented arterial hypotension and four were in a state of shock. In the group with moderate hypothermia blood glucose level was elevated in six (9.3, 10.2, 10.7, 17.9, 21.3, 99.0) and in one patient blood glucose level was low, 2.3 mmol/L, in correlation with hypoglycemic coma. In the group with severe hypothermia blood glucose was elevated in all eight patients (6.7, 7.4, 7.6, 8.7, 9.1, 11.2, 12.4, 17.0 mmol/L).

urban hypothermia; elderly; hyperglycemia

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