LAUSR

OBJECTIVE to analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of hypothermia in patients on hemodialysis. METHODS a diagnostic accuracy study was assembled within a cross-sectional study with 124 patients from two dialysis centers. A latent class model was used for data analysis. RESULTS the nursing diagnosis hypothermia was present in 13 (10.48%) study participants. The most prevalent defining characteristics were hypoxia (100%), decrease in blood glucose level (83.1%), hypertension (65.3%), piloerection (45.2%), and skin cool to touch (41.1%). The defining characteristics acrocyanosis (99.96%) and cyanotic nail beds (99.98%) had a high sensitivity. Acrocyanosis (91.8%), skin cool to touch (64.8%), and peripheral vasoconstriction (91.8%) had high specificity. CONCLUSION specific and sensitive indicators of hypothermia work as good clinical indicators for confirming this diagnosis in patients on hemodialysis. The study findings can assist nurses in their clinical reasoning for a correct inference of hypothermia.