Association of Hypothermia with Increased Mortality Rate in SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Objective

We observed patients to have variable temperatures. The objective of the study was to identify if hypothermia in a patient infected with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a higher than expected mortality.

Methods

We reviewed 331 charts from patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 between March 9 to April 20, 2020.

Results

The probability of death was 2.06 times higher for those with hypothermia than those without [95% C.I. (1.25, 3.38)]. In ventilated patients, there were 32 deaths. Of those, 75% had been hypothermic. In a prior review of 10,000 non-SARS-CoV-2 patients with sepsis, the mortality rate in patients with hypothermia was 47%. Reviewed studies demonstrated a range of expected mortality rates in patients with ventilator dependent respiratory failure and sepsis. In comparison, our study shows that within a group of critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 and hypothermia, the mortality rate exceeded those rates.

Conclusion

Our review showed a significant association between hypothermia and death (p = 0.0033).

Predictors of mortality in SARS-CoV-2 disease can expedite earlier aggressive care. Additionally, in areas with limited resources or overburdened healthcare systems, there may be a need for resource allocation management and information about mortality risk may be helpful.