Heat-related illness causes failure of thermoregulatory mechanisms of the body resulting in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. These can result in permanent neurological damage and fatality.

The goal of a recent study published in the Journal of family Medicine and Primary Care was to provide the description of clinical profile of patients presenting with heat-related illness, and to identify clinical and laboratory variables resulting in poor outcome.

This was a retrospective study that identified adult patients admitted with a diagnosis of heat-related illness from April to August 2019, in tertiary care center. Patients’ clinical profile, laboratory investigations and outcome were extracted from medical records, and variables associated with poor outcome were analyzed.

The mean age of the patients was 61 years and the mean heat index of the localities was 39.6oC. The results showed that 66% of patients had multiple organ dysfunction with central nervous system dysfunction – 77%, followed by respiratory distress syndrome – 61%—as the most common organ derangement. Evaporative cooling measures were incorporated in management of all patients, followed by cold saline infusion in 60%. Higher J-ERATO score at admission was found to be a predictor for underlying multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Moreover, the mortality rate associated with heat-related illness in this study was 11.1%.

It was inferred that multiple organ dysfunction is seen in majority of the patients suffering from heat illness, and calculation of simple admission J-ERATO score helps in predicting the same. 

Source: J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Aug; 9(8): 4210–4215.