Table 6

Hypothermia incidents by severity classifications and age, and room temperature

(A) Hypothermia incidentsAge (hours)
2481624
n=109n=920n=918n=906n=887
Severity classifications
WHO*Mullany†
MildGrade 1: <36.5–36.0 °C, n (%)13 (11.9)124 (13.5)105 (11.4)41 (4.5)19 (2.1)
ModerateGrade 2: <36.0–35.0 °C, n (%)5 (4.6)25 (2.7)15 (1.6)1 (0.11)0
ModerateGrade 3: <35.0–34.0 °C, n (%)01 (0.11)01 (0.11)0
ModerateGrade 4‡: <34.0 °C, n00000
Severe: < 32.0 °C00000
Hypothermia§ (<36.5°C) total, n (%)18 (16.5)150 (16.3)120 (13.1)43 (4.7)19 (2.1)
(B) Room temperature
Mean (SD), °C24.0 (1.1)23.8 (1.0)23.8 (1.0)23.7 (0.90)23.8 (0.90)
Median, °C23.923.823.823.723.8
Quartiles (25–75 P), °C23.4–24.623.2–24.423.2–24.423.1–24.323.2–24.4
Range, °C20.0–29.420.0–28.121.0–32.021.4–27.221.3–27.1
  • *Hypothermia as defined by WHO.1

  • †Hypothermia grades as suggested by Mullany.7

  • ‡Mullany hypothermia Grade 4 comprises the lower segment of WHO moderate hypothermia <34.0°C and WHO severe hypothermia (<32.0°C).

  • §A total of 350 measurements of rectal temperature <36.5°C in 270 infants.

  • P, Percentile; SD, Standard deviation.