Introduction: Following the emergence of the COVID-19 epidemic in France, several preventive measures have been put in place, including a mandatory lockdown of the entire population. This measure was intended to slow down the viral circulation and protect the healthcare system, especially hospital departments. The aim of this study was to describe the activity of emergency department (ED) during the two lockdowns related to the COVID-19 epidemic in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
Method: A retrospective descriptive analysis of ED visits was performed for the period December 09, 2019 to December 20, 2020. The distribution of the number of ED visits was studied.
Results: ED visits decreased by 50% during the first lockdown in line with the COVID-19 epidemic and by 30% during the second. Hospitalization rate increased during the two lockdowns (+ 48% and + 20%, respectively). A differentiated use was observed during both lockdowns, with the emergence of the use of care for “coronavirus”, “stroke” or “dyspnea / respiratory failure” while the typical pathologies “ENT infections” or “skin infections” were no more or less observed.
Conclusion: Data from Oscour® allowed a real-time monitoring of the COVID-19 epidemic in France, and to assess the impact of lockdown on ED activity in the region. A decline in the use of healthcare services, the increase in hospitalization rate and the pathologies observed during the two lockdowns are in favour of a refocusing of the recourse for most serious pathologies.