Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on surgical procedures for retinal detachment in France: a national database study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The COVID-19 crisis and the decisions made regarding population lockdown may have changed patient care. We aimed to investigate the incidence rate of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) cases during the COVID-19 lockdown period. METHODS: In this nationwide database study, we identified hospital and clinic admissions of French residents for a first episode of RRD in France from 2017 to the lockdown period in 2020. The monthly hospital incidence rates of RRD procedures per 100 000 inhabitants before, during and after lockdown were computed for the whole country. Finally, we assessed the influence of viral incidence on the RRD incidence rate, comparing two regions with highly contrasting viral penetration. RESULTS: From January to July, the average monthly national hospital incidence rate of RRD decreased from a mean of 2.59/100 000 inhabitants during 2017-2019 to 1.57/100 000 inhabitants in 2020. Compared with 2019, during the 8-week lockdown period in 2020, a 41.6% decrease in the number of RRD procedures was observed (p<0.001) with the weekly incidence of RRD decreasing from 0.63/100 000 inhabitants in 2019 to 0.36/100 000 inhabitants. During the 4-month post-lockdown period, no increased activity related to postponed procedures was observed. No difference was found in the rate of RRD surgery when comparing two regions with highly contrasting viral incidence. CONCLUSION: Containment may have been responsible for a decrease in the number of surgical procedures for RRD, without any compensating post-lockdown activity in France. These results might help increase awareness of the management of RRD emergencies.

Incidence of new-onset type 1 diabetes during Covid-19 pandemic: A French nationwide population-based study.

AIM: The association between infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the development of new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the hospitalization rates for new-onset T1DM and diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis, in metropolitan France. METHODS: This nationwide retrospective cohort study included hospital data on all patients aged 1 to 35 years old, hospitalized in France due to onset of T1DM, in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2019. RESULTS: Apart from a decrease during the lockdown in 2020, the number of hospitalizations due to new-onset T1DM was not significantly different in 2020 and 2021 than it was in 2019. In the regions most affected by Covid-19 and covering 7,995,449 inhabitants aged from 1 to 35 years old, standardized hospitalization rates were not significantly different in 2020 and in 2021 compared with 2019. The number of hospitalizations for diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis was not significantly different after week 14 in 2020 and in 2021 compared with 2019. CONCLUSION: In this nationwide study, the incidence of hospitalizations for new-onset T1DM and the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis was not increased during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Our results support the fact that infection with SARS-CoV-2 does not promote the development of T1DM.

Impact of the First COVID-19 Wave on French Hospitalizations for Myocardial Infarction and Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic modified the management of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volume and spatial distribution of hospitalizations for MI and stroke, before, during and after the first nationwide lockdown in France in 2020, compared with 2019. Hospitalization data were extracted from the French National Discharge database. Patient's characteristics were compared according to COVID-19 status. Changes in hospitalization rates over time were measured using interrupted time series analysis. Possible spatial patterns of over or under-hospitalization rates were investigated using Moran's indices. We observed a rapid and significant drop in hospitalizations just before the beginning of the lockdown with a nadir at 36.5% for MI and 31.2% for stroke. Hospitalization volumes returned to those seen in 2019 four weeks after the end of the lockdown, except for MI, which rebounded excessively. Older age, male sex, elevated rate of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and mortality characterized COVID-19 patients. There was no evidence of a change in the spatial pattern of over- or under-hospitalization clusters over the three periods. After a steep drop, only MI showed a significant rebound after the first lockdown with no change in the spatial distribution of hospitalizations.

Trends in psychotropic drug consumption among French military personnel during the COVID-19 epidemic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic may have had significant mental health consequences for military personnel, which is a population already exposed to psychological stress. To assess the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we analyzed the dispensing of three classes of psychotropic drugs (anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antidepressants) among French military personnel. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using the individualized medico-administrative data of persons insured by the National Military Social Security Fund from the National Health Data System. All active French military personnel aged 18-64 who received outpatient care and to whom drugs were dispensed between January 1, 2019, and April 30, 2021, were included from the French national health database. Rate ratios of dispensed anxiolytics, hypnotics and antidepressants (based on drug reimbursement) were estimated from negative binomial regressions before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-one thousand seven hundred eleven individuals were included. Overall, 45,148 military personnel were reimbursed for anxiolytics, 10,637 for hypnotics, and 4328 for antidepressants. Drugs were dispensed at a higher rate in 2020 and 2021 than in 2019. There was a notable peak at the beginning of the first lockdown followed by a decrease limited to the duration of the first lockdown. During the first lockdown only, there were temporary phenomena including a brief increase in drug dispensing during the first week followed by a decrease during the rest of lockdown, possibly corresponding to a stocking-up effect. For the study period overall, while there was a significant downward trend in psychotropic drug dispensing before the occurrence of COVID-19 (p < 0.001), the pandemic period was associated with an increase in dispensed anxiolytics (rate ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.04, p < 0.05), hypnotics (rate ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.11-1.16, p < 0.001) and antidepressants (rate ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10-1.13, p < 0.001) in the military population. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has probably had a significant impact on the mental health of French military personnel, as suggested by the trends in dispensed psychotropic drugs. The implementation of mental health prevention measures should be investigated for this population.

Trends of Myocarditis and Endocarditis Cases before, during, and after the First Complete COVID-19-Related Lockdown in 2020 in France.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalization for cardiac infections is not well known. We aimed to evaluate the nationwide trends in hospital stays for myocarditis and endocarditis cases before, during and after the nationwide lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic in France. We then aimed to describe the proportion of myocarditis and endocarditis patients with and without COVID-19 and their clinical characteristics. METHODS: Hospitalized cases of cardiac infection were extracted from the French National Discharge database, which collects the medical records of all patients discharged from all public and private hospitals in France. Age, sex, and available cardiovascular risk factors were compared between stays with and without COVID-19 during the lockdown. RESULTS: The number of myocarditis cases was 11% higher in 2020, compared to the average of the three prior years. In 2020, 439 of 3727 cases of myocarditis were associated with COVID-19. For endocarditis, there was an increase in cases by 7% in 2020 versus prior years. For endocarditis, 3% (240 of 8128 cases) of patients with endocarditis had COVID-19. For myocarditis, older age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and atrial fibrillation were more frequent in patients with COVID-19 than in those without. For endocarditis, only hypertension was more frequent in patients with COVID-19 than in those without. CONCLUSION: Our study reports an increase in hospitalizations for both myocarditis and endocarditis in 2020, possibly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, the trends differ according to the COVID-19 status. Knowledge of the factors associating myocarditis or endocarditis and COVID-19 may improve the quality and the type of monitoring for people with COVID-19, the identification of patients at risk of cardiac infections, and the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Trends of Myocarditis and Endocarditis Cases before, during, and after the First Complete COVID-19-Related Lockdown in 2020 in France

Background. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospitalization for cardiac infections is not well known. We aimed to evaluate the nationwide trends in hospital stays for myocarditis and endocarditis cases before, during and after the nationwide lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic in France. We then aimed to describe the proportion of myocarditis and endocarditis patients with and without COVID-19 and their clinical characteristics. Methods. Hospitalized cases of cardiac infection were extracted from the French National Discharge database, which collects the medical records of all patients discharged from all public and private hospitals in France. Age, sex, and available cardiovascular risk factors were compared between stays with and without COVID-19 during the lockdown. Results. The number of myocarditis cases was 11% higher in 2020, compared to the average of the three prior years. In 2020, 439 of 3727 cases of myocarditis were associated with COVID-19. For endocarditis, there was an increase in cases by 7% in 2020 versus prior years. For endocarditis, 3% (240 of 8128 cases) of patients with endocarditis had COVID-19. For myocarditis, older age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and atrial fibrillation were more frequent in patients with COVID-19 than in those without. For endocarditis, only hypertension was more frequent in patients with COVID-19 than in those without. Conclusion. Our study reports an increase in hospitalizations for both myocarditis and endocarditis in 2020, possibly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, the trends differ according to the COVID-19 status. Knowledge of the factors associating myocarditis or endocarditis and COVID-19 may improve the quality and the type of monitoring for people with COVID-19, the identification of patients at risk of cardiac infections, and the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Impact of the first COVID-19 pandemic peak and lockdown on the interventional management of carotid artery stenosis in France.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the trends of carotid revascularization (endarterectomy [CEA], transfemoral carotid artery stenting [TFCAS]) for symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid stenosis before, during, and after the end of the first lockdown in 2020 in France. METHODS: Nationwide data were provided by the French National Hospital Discharge database (Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information). We retrospectively analyzed patients admitted for CEA or TFCAS in all French public and private hospitals during a 9-month period (January-September) in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Procedures were identified using the French Common Classification of Medical Procedures. Stenoses were considered symptomatic in the presence of stroke and/or transient ischemic attack codes (according to the International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision) during the stay, and asymptomatic in the absence of these codes. Hospitalization rates in 2020 were compared with the rates in the same period in the 3 previous years. RESULTS: Between January and September 2020, 12,546 patients were hospitalized for carotid artery surgery (CEA and TFCAS) in France. Compared with the 3 previous years, there was a decrease in hospitalization rates for asymptomatic (-68.9%) and symptomatic (-12.6%) CEA procedures in April, starting at the pandemic peak concomitant with the first national lockdown. This decrease was significant for asymptomatic CEA (P < .001). After the lockdown, while CEA for asymptomatic stenosis returned to usual activity, CEA for symptomatic stenosis presented a significant rebound, up 18.52% in August compared with previous years. Lockdown also had consequences on TFCAS procedures, with fewer interventions for both asymptomatic (-60.53%) and symptomatic stenosis (-16.67%) in April. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a severe decrease for all interventions during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in France. However, the trends in the postlockdown period were different for the various procedures. These data can be used to anticipate future decisions and organization for cardiovascular care.

Impact of COVID-19 and lockdowns on pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients in France: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on overall hospitalizations for pulmonary embolism (PE) in France in comparison with previous years, and by COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 status. METHODS: Hospitalization data (2017-2020) were extracted from the French National Discharge database (all public and private hospitals). We included all patients older than 18 years hospitalized during the 3 years and extracted PE status and COVID-19 status (from March 2020). Age, sex and risk factors for PE (such as obesity, cancer) were identified. We also extracted transfer to an intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital death. The number of PE and the frequency of death in patients in 2019 and 2020 were described by month and by COVID-19 status. Logistic regressions were performed to identify the role of COVID-19 among other risk factors for PE in hospitalized patients. RESULTS: The overall number of patients hospitalized with PE increased by about 16% in 2020 compared with 2019, and mortality also increased to 10.3% (+ 1.2%). These increases were mostly linked to COVID-19 waves, which were associated with PE hospitalization in COVID-19 patients (PE frequency was 3.7%; 2.8% in non-ICU and 8.8% in ICU). The final PE odds ratio for COVID-19 hospitalized patients was 4 compared with other hospitalized patients in 2020. The analyses of PE in non-COVID-19 patients showed a 2.7% increase in 2020 compared with the previous three years. CONCLUSION: In 2020, the overall number of patients hospitalized with PE in France increased compared to the previous three years despite a considerable decrease in scheduled hospitalizations. Nevertheless, proactive public policy focused on the prevention of PE in all patients should be encouraged.

Cardiovascular Surgical Emergencies in France, before, during and after the First Lockdown for COVID-19 in 2020: A Comparative Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There are still gaps regarding the impact of the nationwide lockdown on non-COVID-19 emergency hospitalizations. This study aims to describe the trends in hospitalizations for cardiovascular surgical emergencies in France, before, during and after the first lockdown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All adults admitted for mechanical complications of myocardial infarction (MI), aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm rupture, acute and critical limb ischemia, circulatory assistance, heart transplantation and major amputation were included. This retrospective cohort study used the French National Hospital Discharge database. The numbers of hospitalizations per month in 2020 were compared to the previous three years. RESULTS: From January to September 2020, 94,408 cases of the studied conditions were reported versus 103,126 in the same period in 2019 (-8.5%). There was a deep drop in most conditions during the lockdown, except for circulatory assistance, which increased. After the lockdown, mechanical complications of MI and aortic aneurysm rupture increased, and cardiac transplantations declined compared with previous years. CONCLUSION: We confirmed a deep drop in most cardiovascular surgical emergencies during the lockdown. The post-lockdown period was characterized by a small over-recovery for mechanical complications of MI and aortic aneurysm rupture, suggesting that many patients were able to access surgery after the lockdown.

Effects of the 2020 health crisis on acute alcohol intoxication: A nationwide retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions may have influenced alcohol use and promoted addictive behavior. We aimed to investigate the impact of the pandemic on acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) in France. METHODS: We identified all hospital stays related to alcohol abuse in 2018-2020. Differences in number of hospitalizations between 2019 and 2020 were tested using Poisson regressions. Differences between observed and expected deliveries of drugs used in alcohol dependence in 2020 were also studied. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the number of hospitalizations for AAI between 2019 and 2020 (-9677[-11·4%],RR:0·89[0·88-0·89]). This decrease was observed among men and women of all age groups, except women ≥ 85 years. We observed an increase in in-hospital mortality during 2020 and more hospitalizations for AAI with certain medical complications, especially during the first 2020 lockdown. There was a drop in observed deliveries of drugs used in alcohol dependence during the first 2020 lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in the number of hospitalizations for AAI in 2020 could be explained by several factors: fewer available hospital beds due to COVID-19, individuals with AAI delaying or avoiding medical care due to COVID-19 fears, and decreases driven by younger age groups returning to live with parents and socializing less. While alcohol consumption patterns have changed with the implementation of social distancing measures and lockdowns, the increase in mortality and the share of hospitalizations with complications suggest that these measures had an impact on event severity in a context of strained access to healthcare.

Chronic respiratory diseases are predictors of severe outcome in COVID-19 hospitalised patients: a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: Influenza epidemics were initially considered to be a suitable model for the COVID-19 epidemic, but there is a lack of data concerning patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs), who were supposed to be at risk of severe forms of COVID-19. METHODS: This nationwide retrospective cohort study describes patients with prior lung disease hospitalised for COVID-19 (March-April 2020) or influenza (2018-2019 influenza outbreak). We compared the resulting pulmonary complications, need for intensive care and in-hospital mortality depending on respiratory history and virus. RESULTS: In the 89 530 COVID-19 cases, 16.03% had at least one CRD, which was significantly less frequently than in the 45 819 seasonal influenza patients. Patients suffering from chronic respiratory failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension were under-represented, contrary to those with lung cancer, sleep apnoea, emphysema and interstitial lung diseases. COVID-19 patients with CRDs developed significantly more ventilator-associated pneumonia and pulmonary embolism than influenza patients. They needed intensive care significantly more often and had a higher mortality rate (except for asthma) when compared with patients with COVID-19 but without CRDs or patients with influenza. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with prior respiratory diseases were globally less likely to be hospitalised for COVID-19 than for influenza, but were at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 and had a higher mortality rate compared with influenza patients and patients without a history of respiratory illness.

Impact of the COVID-19 Epidemic on hospitalization for diabetic foot ulcers during lockdown: A French nationwide population-based study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the hospitalization rates for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), osteomyelitis and lower limb revascularization procedure in people with DFU. METHODS: This nationwide retrospective cohort study included hospital data on all people hospitalized in France for diabetes in weeks 2-43 in 2020, including the COVID-19 lockdown period, compared to same period in 2019. RESULTS: The number of hospitalizations for DFU decreased significantly in weeks 12-19 (during the lockdown) (p < 10-4 ). Hospitalization for foot osteomyelitis also decreased significantly in weeks 12-19 (p < 10-4 ). The trend was the same for lower limb amputations and revascularizations associated with DFU or amputation. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The marked drop in hospitalization rates for DFU, osteomyelitis and lower limb revascularization procedures in people with DFU observed in France during the lockdown period suggests that COVID-19 was a barrier to DFU care, and may illustrate the combined deleterious effects of hospital overload and changes in health-related behaviour.

Hospitalizations for Stroke in France During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before, During, and After the National Lockdown.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In France, the entire population was put under a total lockdown from March 17 to May 11, 2020 during the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Whether the lockdown had consequences on the management of medical emergencies such as stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) has yet to be fully evaluated. This article describes hospitalization rates for acute stroke in 2 French regions that experienced contrasting rates of COVID-19 infection, before, during, and after the nationwide lockdown (January to June 2020). METHODS: All patients admitted for acute stroke/TIA into all public and private hospitals of the 2 study regions were included. Data were retrieved from the National Hospitalization Database (PMSI). In the most affected region (Grand-Est), the hospitalization rates observed in April 2020 were compared with the rates in the same period in the least affected region (Occitanie) and in the 3 prior years (2017-2019). RESULTS: There was a significant decline in hospitalization rates for stroke/TIA within the region most affected by COVID-19 during the month of April 2020 compared with previous years, while no significant change was seen in the least affected region. After lockdown, we observed a fast rebound in the rate of hospitalization for stroke/TIA in the most affected region, contrasting with a slower rebound in the least affected region. In both regions, patients with COVID-19 stroke more frequently had ischemic stroke, a nonsignificant greater prevalence of diabetes, they were less frequently admitted to stroke units, and mortality was higher than in patients without COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrates a significant drop in stroke/TIA hospitalizations and a fast recovery after the end of the French lockdown in the most affected region, while the least affected region saw a nonsignificant drop in stroke/TIA hospitalizations and a slow recovery. These results and recommendations could be used by the health authorities to prepare for future challenges.

Comparison of the characteristics, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza: a nationwide, population-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To date, influenza epidemics have been considered suitable for use as a model for the COVID-19 epidemic, given that they are respiratory diseases with similar modes of transmission. However, data directly comparing the two diseases are scarce. METHODS: We did a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the French national administrative database (PMSI), which includes discharge summaries for all hospital admissions in France. All patients hospitalised for COVID-19 from March 1 to April 30, 2020, and all patients hospitalised for influenza between Dec 1, 2018, and Feb 28, 2019, were included. The diagnosis of COVID-19 (International Classification of Diseases [10th edition] codes U07.10, U07.11, U07.12, U07.14, or U07.15) or influenza (J09, J10, or J11) comprised primary, related, or associated diagnosis. Comparisons of risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes between patients hospitalised for COVID-19 and influenza were done, with data also stratified by age group. FINDINGS: 89 530 patients with COVID-19 and 45 819 patients with influenza were hospitalised in France during the respective study periods. The median age of patients was 68 years (IQR 52-82) for COVID-19 and 71 years (34-84) for influenza. Patients with COVID-19 were more frequently obese or overweight, and more frequently had diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia than patients with influenza, whereas those with influenza more frequently had heart failure, chronic respiratory disease, cirrhosis, and deficiency anaemia. Patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 more frequently developed acute respiratory failure, pulmonary embolism, septic shock, or haemorrhagic stroke than patients with influenza, but less frequently developed myocardial infarction or atrial fibrillation. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with COVID-19 than in patients with influenza (15 104 [16·9%] of 89 530 vs 2640 [5·8%] of 45 819), with a relative risk of death of 2·9 (95% CI 2·8-3·0) and an age-standardised mortality ratio of 2·82. Of the patients hospitalised, the proportion of paediatric patients (<18 years) was smaller for COVID-19 than for influenza (1227 [1·4%] vs 8942 [19·5%]), but a larger proportion of patients younger than 5 years needed intensive care support for COVID-19 than for influenza (14 [2·3%] of 613 vs 65 [0·9%] of 6973). In adolescents (11-17 years), the in-hospital mortality was ten-times higher for COVID-19 than for influenza (five [1·1% of 458 vs one [0·1%] of 804), and patients with COVID-19 were more frequently obese or overweight. INTERPRETATION: The presentation of patients with COVID-19 and seasonal influenza requiring hospitalisation differs considerably. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is likely to have a higher potential for respiratory pathogenicity, leading to more respiratory complications and to higher mortality. In children, although the rate of hospitalisation for COVID-19 appears to be lower than for influenza, in-hospital mortality is higher; however, low patient numbers limit this finding. These findings highlight the importance of appropriate preventive measures for COVID-19, as well as the need for a specific vaccine and treatment. FUNDING: French National Research Agency.