Abstract
Background:
Primary hypothermia occurs when the body is exposed to extremely low temperatures in the enviornment with no underlying health conditions. Secondary hypothermia, on the other hand, results from disruptions in thermoregulation due to diseases, trauma, surgery, drugs, alcohol, or infections. Postmortem biochemistry has become a crucial factor in forensic examinations, offering valuable apprehension into tissue impairment and organ dysfunction connected with the process of dying

Aim:
This research aims to explore various biochemical markers and their significance for distinguishing primary hypothermia from secondary hypothermia.

Methods:
This study involved 21 Wistar rats, which were separated into three experimental groups: CG(n=7), which was exposed only with hypothermic conditions; AHG (n=7); and BHG (n=7). We tested these parameters in each rat: Glucose, Urea, Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen to Creatinine Ratio, Phosphorus, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Sodium to Potassium Ratio, Chloride and Calculated Osmolality.

Results:
Distinct biochemical discrepancies were noted between primary and secondary hypothermia. Glucose and creatinine levels exhibited significant variations (p<0.001). Urea concentrations also manifested notable differences between the groups (p<0.001). Phosphorus levels demonstrated significant differences (p=0.004), with post-hoc analyses revealing significant contrasts between the AHG and BHG (p=0.014) and between the BHG and CG (p=0.014). Potassium levels and the sodium-to-potassium ratio differed significantly (p<0.001). Osmolality also varied significantly across experimental groups (p<0.001), with post-hoc tests confirming significant differences between the AHG and CG (p=0.013) and the BHG and CG (p=0.002).

Conclusion:
The calculated osmolality demonstrated significant variation among the different groups, indicating a notable impact of substances on the biochemical profile related to hypothermia. This study focused attention on the effectiveness of biochemical markers in distinguishing primary from secondary hypothermia.

Key words: Hypothermia, Forensic, Cause of death, Biochemical analysis