Body Temperature and Mortality in Acute Cerebral Infarction
Suchat Hanchaiphiboolkul, MD*
Affiliation : * Prasat Neurological Institute, Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health
Background and Objective : In animal models, a rise in body temperature after cerebral ischemia consistently
produces more extensive brain damage. In humans, however, the relationship between body temperature and
stroke outcome has been far less extensively investigated, providing conflicting results. The objective of the
present study is to determine whether body temperature recorded during the first 72 hours after admission is
an independent predictor of mortality in acute cerebral infarction.
Materials and Methods : The medical records of patients admitted within 48 hours of onset of symptoms to
Prasat Neurological Institute between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2003, with a diagnosis of cerebral
infarction, confirmed by CT or MRI of the brain were retrospectively studied. The relationship between the
highest temperature recorded during the first 72 hours after admission and mortality during hospital stay
was evaluated. Multiple logistic regression analysis included relevant confounders and potential predictors
such as gender, age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, previous stroke, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrilla-
tion, consciousness and infections was performed.
Results : There were 332 patients included in the present study. During the first 72 hours after admission, 88
(26.5%) patients had fever (>37.5(cid:31)C). The highest temperature recorded during the first 72 hours after admission
was a significant predictor of in hospital mortality in the final multivariate logistic regression model. For
each 1(cid:31)C increase in body temperature the odd ratio of mortality rose by 3.95 (OR, 3.95; 95%CI, 1.84-8.45).
Conclusion : In the present study, the highest body temperature recorded during the first 72 hours after
admission was shown to be a significant predictor of mortality in acute cerebral infarct patients.
Keywords : Body temperature, Cerebral infarction, Mortality, Prognostic factors
