Which vital sign reflects the body's metabolic state?

Temperature is a vital sign that reflects the body's metabolic state because it is closely tied to the physiological processes that generate heat through metabolism. The body maintains a core temperature that is ideal for enzymatic functions and cellular processes. An increase in metabolic activity, such as during exercise or infection, often results in an elevated body temperature due to increased heat production. Conversely, a drop in metabolic activity may lead to a lower body temperature.

In the context of outdoor emergency care, monitoring the temperature can provide essential information about a patient's health status and metabolic functioning, making it crucial for assessing conditions such as hypothermia or hyperthermia. Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate, while important vital signs indicating circulatory, cardiac, and respiratory function, do not directly measure metabolic activity in the same manner that body temperature does.