TEMPERATURE REGULATION IN SURVIVORS OF ACCIDENTAL HYPOTHERMIA OF THE ELDERLY

Abstract Eight survvivors from accidental hypo- thermia of the elderly, and three elderly controls who were not known to have had hypothermia were examined. Central and superficial body tempera- tures, shivering, hand blood-flow or finger heat elimina- tion, blood-pressure and, in three survivors and the controls, oxygen consumption were recorded when the subjects were comfortably warm and when their skin was cooled with a fan. The controls showed responses similar to those of younger healthy individuals. The survivors resting central temperature was low. On exposure to cold it fell progressively and abnormally. Evidence is presented that this is due ti impairment of the increase in heat production and decrease in heat loss normally evoked by exposure to cold. This abnormality of body temperature regulation is probably a major aetiological factor in accidental hypothermia of the elderly. It was present as much as 3 years after recovery from accidental hypo- thermia of the elderly, and survivors from accidental hypothermia of the elderly therefore must be regarded at risk from another episode of hypothermia when exposed to only moderate cold.