J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2003 Oct;14(4):409-414.

Descriptive Study of Prognostic Factors of Exertional Heat Stroke in Military Personnel

• Jo YH
• Shin SD
• Kim DH
• Jo IJ
• Rhee JE
• Suh GJ
• Youn YK
• Kim KS

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to evaluate the characteristics of exertional heat stroke between the non-survival and the survival groups.
METHODS
From January 1996 to December 2002, patients with exertional heat stroke who came to the emergency department of a military hospital were enrolled. Data on individual factors, atmospheric conditions, pre-hospital management, initial vital signs, laboratory findings, presence of seizure attack, and performance of intubation were reviewed retrospectively and compared between the nonsurvival and the survival groups.
RESULTS
During the study period, 22 patients were diagnosed as suffering from exertional heat stroke and 5 patients died. Most of the episodes occurred during the summer days with high ambient temperature (mean 30.6+/-3.0 degrees C) and humidity (mean 75.6+/-7.7%), and 13 patients were unacclimatized recruits. The non-survival group showed a lower initial systolic blood pressure, platelet count, arterial pH, and HCO3 - level, and a higher serum creatinine, ALT, and amylase level than did the survival group (p<0.05). However there were no significant differences in individual factors, atmospheric conditions, pre-hospital management, initial pulse rate, temperature, white blood cell count, hemoglobin count, and the sodium, potassium, BUN and AST levels between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Initial systolic blood pressure, platelet count, and arterial pH, as well as HCO3 -, serum creatinine, ALT, and amylase levels seem to be important factors for the prognosis of exertional heat stroke.

Keyword

Exertional heat stroke; Prognostic factor; Military personnel

MeSH Terms

Amylases
Blood Pressure
Creatinine
Emergency Service, Hospital
Heart Rate
Heat Stroke*
Hospitals, Military
Hot Temperature*
Humans
Humidity
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Intubation
Leukocyte Count
Military Personnel*
Platelet Count
Potassium
Prognosis
Retrospective Studies
Seizures
Sodium
Vital Signs
Amylases
Creatinine
Potassium
Sodium