Abstract
Background
Short-distance air medical transport for adult emergency patients does not significantly
affect patients' body temperature and outcomes. This study aimed to examine the influence
of long-distance air medical transport on patients' body temperatures and the relationship
between body temperature change and mortality.
Methods
We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients transferred via helicopter or plane
from isolated islands to an emergency medical center in Tokyo, Japan between April
2010 and December 2016. Patients' average body temperature was compared before and
after air transport using a paired t-test, and corrections between body temperature change and flight duration were calculated
using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Multivariable logistic regression models
were then used to examine the association between body temperature change and in-hospital
mortality.
Results
Of 1253 patients, the median age was 72 years (interquartile range, 60–82 years) and
median flight duration was 71 min (interquartile range, 54–93 min). In-hospital mortality
was 8.5%, and average body temperature was significantly different before and after
air transport (36.7 °C versus 36.3 °C; difference: −0.36 °C; 95% confidence interval,
−0.30 to −0.42; p < 0.001). There was no correlation between body temperature change
and flight duration (r = 0.025, p = 0.371). In-hospital death was significantly associated with (i) hyperthermia
(>38.0 °C) or normothermia (36.0–37.9 °C) before air transport and hypothermia after
air transport (odds ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.20–3.63; p = 0.009), and
(ii) winter season (odds ratio, 2.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–4.27; p = 0.030).
Conclusion
Physicians should consider body temperature change during long-distance air transport
in patients with not only hypothermia but also normothermia or hyperthermia before
air transport, especially in winter.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: April 30, 2018
Accepted:
April 27,
2018
Received in revised form:
April 27,
2018
Received:
February 5,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
