Accidental hypothermia in the elderly

Abstract

Accidental hypothermia is known to be a hazard to elderly people in temperate and cold climate. This is a review of the literature focusing on risk factors, clinical presentation and treatment of hypothermia in the elderly. The most important risk factors are connected to ageing itself and to the morbidity often found in elderly hypothermia victims. Knowledge about treatment of severe accidental hypothermia in elderly people is based on experience from few cases and some minor prospective studies mainly on rewarming of younger patients. Clinical treatment protocols seems to be based on experience from younger patients. Based on general knowledge in geriatric medicine and experience from three recent cases of hypothermia in the elderly, the use of careful, active external rewarming and a low stress strategy are recommended for elderly patients.