| Abstract: | A retrospective study was made of all patients aged over 65 years with hypothermia discharged from or dying in the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow in the years 1977-81. Full follow-up data were obtained on 81 of the 91 patients identified. Patients were divided into cases of primary and secondary hypothermia. There were no significant differences between the two groups in initial mortality mean age on admission or mean temperature on admission, but there was a highly significant (P less than 0.001) difference in long-term outcome: the 3-year mortality in patients who survived the index admission was 100% in the primary group and 24% in the secondary group. |
