From December 1993 to March 1999 we treated 18 elderly patients aged 66–87 years,
suffering from urban hypothermia: 11 women and 7 men. Ten patients suffered from
moderate hypothermia (rectal temperature 32–35 °C), and eight from severe hypothermia
(rectal temperature<32 °C). Regarding consciousness, in the group suffering from
moderate hypothermia, 3 were somnolent and 6 in various degrees of comatose states. In
the group suffering from severe hypothermia, 3 patients were somnolent or soporous and
5 in comatose states of various degrees. Values of arterial blood pressure in the group
with moderate hypothermia was normal in one, in 3 arterial hypotension was observed
and 6 were in a state of shock. In the group with severe hypothermia, 3 presented arterial
hypotension and 5 were in a state of shock. In the group with moderate hypothermia
the blood glucose level was elevated in six: 9.3–10.2–10.7–17.9–21.3–99.0, and in one patient
the blood glucose level was low: 2.3 mmol/L, in correlation with hypoglycemic
coma. In the group with severe hypothermia in all eight patients the values were elevated:
6.7–7.4–7.6–8.7–9.1–11.2–12.4–17.9 mmol/L
