Hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity emergency department visits: United States, 1995-2004.
OBJECTIVE
Although hypothermia is preventable, little has been published on its epidemiology. This study estimates the incidence of hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity emergency department (ED) visits in the United States.


METHODS
We identified hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity ED visits from the 1995- 2004 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (991.6-991.9) or cause-of-injury E-codes (901.0-901.9 and 988.3).


RESULTS
In the United States there were an estimated 15 574 (95% CI = 9 103-22 045) hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity ED visits during 1995 to 2004. Compared with other ED patients, those with hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity diagnoses were older (mean age 45 vs 36 years; P = .009) and were more likely to be uninsured (risk ratio [RR] = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.54-3.84). Hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity ED visits required more transfers to critical care units (RR = 6.73; 95% CI = 1.8-25.0) than did other ED visits.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity is a preventable resource-intensive condition that tends to affect the disadvantaged.
Baumgartner
Eduardo Azziz
EA
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Health Studies Branch, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. eha9@cdc.gov
Belson
Martin
M
Rubin
Carol
C
Patel
Manish
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult