Risk factors for acute pancreatitis in patients with accidental hypothermia

Background

Pancreatic damage is commonly observed as a consequence of accidental hypothermia (core body temperature below 35?°C). We aimed to investigate the risk factors for pancreatic damage and the causal relationship in patients with accidental hypothermia.

Methods

This retrospective, single-center, observational case-control study was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary care medical center. We investigated patients who were admitted for accidental hypothermia over a course of ten years (January 2008 to December 2017).

Results

Of the 138 enrolled patients, 70 had elevated serum amylase levels (51%). We observed a correlation between initial core body temperature and serum amylase level (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient ?0.302, p?<?0.001). Patients who developed acute pancreatitis had a significantly lower initial core body temperature than those who did not develop it (odds ratio?=?0.76; 95% confidence interval CI]?=?0.61–0.94; p?=?0.011). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that a body temperature lower than 28.5?°C at the time of visit was predictive of acute pancreatitis (area under the curve?=?0.71, 95% CI?=?0.54–0.88, sensitivity?=?0.67, specificity?=?0.69, p?=?0.017).

Conclusions

We concluded that an initial core body temperature lower than 28.5?°C was a risk factor for acute pancreatitis in accidental hypothermia cases. In such situations, careful follow-up is necessary.