Body temperature and heart rate rhythms in acutely head-injured patients.
This descriptive pilot study investigated the circadian (24-hour) rhythms of heart rate and temperature in acutely head-injured patients and the relationships between these variables. The convenience sample consisted of 10 patients who were admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of acute head injury. Patel's Method of Partition was used to estimate rhythmicity. Only one patient demonstrated circadian rhythms for body temperature and heart rate with the peaks occurring at appropriate times. While three other patients had significant rhythms for these variables, the rhythms had cycles of less than 24 hours and peaks occurring at inappropriate times. Although significant correlations were found between body temperature and heart rate rhythms, they were low.
D M
DM
Lanuza
C R
CR
Robinson
S F
SF
Marotta
M K
MK
Patel
D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010865:Pilot Projects