RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

International Registry of Accidental Hypothermia

This study, called the International Registry of Accidental Hypothermia, is collecting information about people who accidentally get very cold. This can happen in winter due to accidents like being exposed to snow, falling into cold water, or being out in extremely cold city conditions. While mild cold exposure is usually harmless, severe accidental hypothermia can be very dangerous and even deadly. Currently, doctors don't know enough about the best ways to treat it or what causes complications. By bringing together a large amount of patient data from around the world, this registry hopes to help doctors understand the condition better. The goal is to improve rescuers' and hospital staff's ability to treat patients, prevent problems after warming them up, and ultimately help more people survive and recover well.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Hospital, Geneva

Enrolment target

500

Start

01 Oct 2008

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2054

Accidental Hypothermia

What is this study about?

Imagine someone is out in the cold – perhaps they've had a skiing accident, fallen into a lake, or been exposed to very cold weather in a city – and their body temperature drops dangerously low. This is called accidental hypothermia. While getting a bit cold (like below 35°C, or around 95°F) is quite common and usually doesn't cause lasting harm, very severe accidental hypothermia (below 28°C, or around 82.4°F) is very serious and can often be deadly.

At the moment, doctors don't fully understand why some people recover and others don't, or what the very best ways are to warm someone up and treat them. Also, even after someone is successfully warmed up, they often face serious health problems. Because severe accidental hypothermia is rare, it's hard for individual hospitals to gather enough information to learn from. This is where the International Hypothermia Registry comes in.

This registry is like a large, organised library of patient information from all over the world. By collecting details from many different cases, doctors hope to build the biggest database ever about accidental hypothermia. With so much information in one place, they can look for patterns, figure out which treatments work best, predict who might struggle, and learn how to prevent severe complications. The main goal is to improve how people are rescued and treated, both before they even reach the hospital and once they are there, so that more patients can survive and get back to their normal lives.

Key takeaways

This study gathers patient information on accidental hypothermia.
It aims to improve treatment and survival rates for this serious condition.
Data from many patients will help doctors learn more.
Participation involves sharing medical records, not new tests.
Your privacy is protected, as all identifying details are removed.

Who may be eligible?

This registry is looking for information from almost anyone who has experienced accidental hypothermia. This means their body temperature dropped to 35°C (95°F) or lower due to an accident, rather than for medical reasons. It doesn't matter what caused the hypothermia – whether it was a mountain accident, a water incident, or just exposure to cold city conditions.

People of any age, gender, or with any existing health conditions can be included. The registry also wants to collect information about all types of treatments people received, both before reaching the hospital and once they were there, and what their final health outcome was.

The main reasons someone might not be included are if they don't want their information to be part of the study, or if crucial information, like their lowest body temperature, is not available.

Quick self-check

Did your body temperature drop to 35°C (95°F) or lower due to an accident?
Was your accidental hypothermia caused by things like cold weather, a fall in cold water, or being in the mountains?
Are you of any age or gender?
Do you have any existing health conditions?
Are you comfortable with your medical information (with personal details removed) being used for research?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

This study is a "registry," which means it collects existing medical information rather than asking patients to do new things. You won't have to visit a special clinic, take any new medications, or undergo any extra tests. There are no follow-up appointments specifically for this study. The researchers will gather details from your medical records related to your accidental hypothermia event. This could include how cold you got, how you were found, what treatments you received, and how you recovered. Your participation involves allowing your de-identified data (meaning personal details that could identify you are removed) to be added to this large international database. There isn't a specific duration for your "participation" as it's about contributing existing information.

Potential risks and benefits

The main benefit of contributing your information to this registry is that you'll be helping doctors better understand accidental hypothermia. This shared knowledge aims to improve the care and survival rates for future patients who experience this serious condition. There are no direct medical benefits to you personally, as it's a study of past information. The risk to you is very low, as all personal details that could identify you are removed from the information before it's added to the database, protecting your privacy. You always have the right to withdraw your consent for your information to be used in the registry at any time, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (16)

Medical University Innsbruck
Innsbruck, Austria· Recruiting
Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder
Salzburg, Austria· Recruiting
Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, Denmark· Recruiting
Klinik Immenstadt
Immenstadt im Allgäu, Germany· Active not recruiting
ASST Bergamo Est
Bergamo, Italy· Recruiting
EURAC Research
Bolzano, Italy· Recruiting
Ospedale Santa Chiara
Trento, Italy· Active not recruiting
Hokkaido Ohno Memorial Hospital
Hokkaido, Japan· Recruiting
Medical University of Silesia
Katowice, Poland· Recruiting
Vall d'Hebron University Hospital
Barcelona, Spain· Recruiting
Hospital de Cerdanya
Girona, Spain· Recruiting
Kantonsspital Chür
Chur, Switzerland· Recruiting

+4 more sites — see the official record for the full list.

Common questions

What is 'accidental hypothermia'?

It's when your body temperature drops dangerously low, usually below 35°C (95°F), because of being exposed to cold, often after an accident.

What is a 'registry'?

A registry is a collection of information about people with a specific condition. Doctors use it to learn more from many cases.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, your privacy is very important. All identifying personal details will be removed from your information before it's added to the registry.

Do I have to do anything extra if I participate?

No, you don't need to do anything extra. The study just uses existing medical information from your past care.

How will this study help people?

By putting together lots of patient information, doctors hope to find better ways to treat accidental hypothermia, which could save lives and improve recovery for future patients.

How to find out more

Evelien Cools, MD

Evelien.Cools@hcuge.ch +41774191851 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.