title: Non-invasive monitoring of core body temperature rhythms over 72 h in 10 bedridden elderly patients with disorders of consciousness in a Japanese hospital: a pilot study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the body core temperature rhythms of bedridden elderly patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) in a Japanese hospital using a simple, non-invasive, deep-body thermometer. We measured body core temperature on the surface of abdomen in 10 bedridden elderly patients with DOC continuously over 72 h. A non-heated core body temperature thermometer was used. The cycle of the body core temperature rhythm was initially derived by using the least squares method. Then, based on that rhythm, the mean, amplitude, and times of day of the highest and lowest body temperatures during the optimum cycle were determined using the cosinor method. We found a 24-h cycle in seven of the 10 patients. One patient had a 6-h, one a 12-h, and one a 63-h cycle. The mean value of the cosine curve in the respective optimum cycles was 36.48 ± 0.34 °C, and the amplitude was 0.22 ± 0.09 °C. Of the seven subjects with 24-h cycles, the highest body temperature occurred between 12:58 and 14:44 h in four. In addition to 24-h cycles of core temperature rhythm, short cycles of 12 and 6-h and a long cycle of 63-h were seen. In order to understand the temperature rhythms of bedridden elderly patients with DOC, it is necessary to monitor their core body temperatures, ideally using a simple, non-invasive device. In the future, it will be important to investigate the relationship of the core temperature rhythm to nursing care and living environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nursing, Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa 920-0942, Japan. maaaasaru@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sugama
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuwa
authors.forename: Misako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sanada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: Bedridden; Core body temperature rhythm; Disorders of consciousness; Elderly patients; Gerontological nursing