[Hypothermia in the elderly: a shivering case].
Hypothermia is a medical emergency in patients with a body temperature lower than 35 degrees C (95 degrees F) due to prolonged exposure to ambient cold temperatures without appropriate protection. This condition has a 5-fold increased risk of death in the elderly. Usually, diagnosis is suggested by warning signs and symptoms like lethargy, weakness and loss of coordination, confusion and reduced respiratory or heart rate. We report the case of a 76-year-old woman who was referred to our center for symptomatic sinus bradycardia and with typical electrocardiographic abnormalities (Osborn wave) that suggested the diagnosis of severe hypothermia.
Merlino
Aldo
A
Divisione di Cardiologia-UTIC, ASL 5 Messina, Presidio Ospedaliero "G. Fogliani", Milazzo (ME). meral@tiscali.it
Iudicello
Mario Soccorso
MS
Vasquez
Ludovico
L
Pizzimenti
Giovanni
G
Badessa
Francesco
F
Grasso
Paolo
P
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac; D004562:Electrocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D053609:Lethargy; D012768:Shivering