I Minute
I Question: What are the key findings of the HEAT study?
I Answer: Paul Young, Intensivist, Wellington, New Zealand
-----------------------------------
So the key findings of a HEAT study: number one the administration of paracetamol to treat fever in intensive care patients with likely infection neither increased nor decreased the number of days that patients spent alive and free from needing intensive care. Number two: paracetamol only had a very mild effect on body temperature, so it reduced the body temperature by around about a quarter of a degree. Number three: paracetamol is well tolerated, it didn't cause any significant adverse effects. And number four was an interesting finding which was that for patients who died, paracetamol meant they stayed in intensive care for longer. For patients who died they stayed in intensive care for shorter if they received paracetamol.
