Table 2.
Selected medical and social characteristics of decedents based on a review of NYC hypothermia fatalities by place of onset, 2008–2013.
| Patient Characteristic | Total | Onset Indoors | Onset Outdoors 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % | n | % | n | % | |
| Total | 76 | 100% | 19 | 100% | 57 | 100% |
| One or more chronic condition(s) 2 | 73 | 96% | 19 | 100% | 54 | 95% |
| Evidence of cardiovascular disease | 56 | 74% | 18 | 95% | 38 | 67% |
| History of diabetes | 9 | 12% | 3 | 16% | 6 | 11% |
| Evidence of a respiratory condition | 6 | 8% | 1 | 5% | 5 | 9% |
| Substance Use | ||||||
| Evidence of alcohol (chronic or acute) or other substance use | 40 | 53% | 5 | 26% | 35 | 61% |
| Evidence of alcohol use at time of death | 26 | 34% | 1 | 5% | 25 | 44% |
| Cognitive or mental health conditions | ||||||
| Any cognitive or mental health condition 3 | 22 | 29% | 13 | 68% | 9 | 16% |
| History of schizophrenia/schizo-affective disorder | 8 | 11% | 2 | 11% | 6 | 11% |
| History of hoarding | 7 | 9% | 7 | 37% | 0 | 0% |
| Body Mass Index category (18 years of age and older, n = 75) | ||||||
| Normal or Underweight | 43 | 58% | 10 | 53% | 33 | 60% |
| Overweight | 20 | 27% | 5 | 26% | 15 | 27% |
| Obese | 11 | 15% | 4 | 21% | 7 | 13% |
| Unknown 4 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Homeless 5 | 30 | 39% | 0 | 0% | 30 | 53% |
1 Includes those with onset at subway stations or abandoned buildings; 2 Records with any evidence of cardiovascular disease, substance use, diabetes, cognitive or mental health condition, or respiratory condition. Does not include body mass index; 3 Including schizophrenia and hoarding; 4 Excluded from denominator for percentages; 5 Homeless status determined by mention of confirmed or suspected homelessness in NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner records, including death certificates, case worksheets, and investigation reports.