title: Hypothermia and other cold-related morbidity emergency department visits: United States, 1995-2004.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Eduardo Azziz
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belson
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: 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