Hospitalizations for Anorexia Nervosa during the COVID-19 Pandemic in France: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on mental health, including on food-related behaviors. However, little is known about the effect of the pandemic on anorexia nervosa (AN). We sought to assess an association between the COVID-19 pandemic and a potential increase in hospitalizations for AN in France. We compared the number of hospitalizations with a diagnosis of AN during the 21-month period following the onset of the pandemic with the 21-month period before the pandemic using Poisson regression models. We identified a significant increase in hospitalizations for girls aged 10 to 19 years (+45.9%, RR = 1.46[1.43–1.49]; p < 0.0001), and for young women aged 20 to 29 (+7.0%; RR = 1.07[1.04–1.11]; p < 0.0001). Regarding markers of severity, there was an increase in hospitalizations for AN associated with a self-harm diagnosis between the two periods. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of being admitted for self-harm with AN increased significantly during the pandemic period among patients aged 20–29 years (aOR = 1.39[1.06–1.81]; p < 0.05 vs. aOR = 1.15[0.87–1.53]; NS), whereas it remained high in patients aged 10 to 19 years (aOR = 2.40[1.89–3.05]; p < 0.0001 vs. aOR = 3.12[2.48–3.98]; p < 0.0001). Furthermore, our results suggest that the pandemic may have had a particular effect on the mental health of young women with AN, with both a sharp increase in hospitalizations and a high risk of self-harming behaviors

How did episiotomy rates change from 2007 to 2014? Population-based study in France

International audienceBACKGROUND: Since the 2000s, selective episiotomy has been systematically recommended worldwide. In France, the recommended episiotomy rate in vaginal deliveries is less than 30%. The aims of this study were to describe the evolution of episiotomy rates between 2007 and 2014, especially for vaginal deliveries without instrumental assistance and to assess individual characteristics and birth environment factors associated with episiotomy.METHODS: This population-based study included all hospital discharge abstracts for all deliveries in France from 2007 to 2014. The use of episiotomy in vaginal deliveries was identified by one code in the French Common Classification of Medical Procedures. The episiotomy rate per department and its evolution is described from 2007 to 2014. A mixed model was used to assess associations with episiotomy for non-operative vaginal deliveries and the risk factors related to the women's characteristics and the birth environment.RESULTS: There were approximately 540,000 non-operative vaginal deliveries per year, in the study period. The national episiotomy rate for vaginal deliveries overall significantly decreased from 26.7% in 2007 to 19.9% in 2014. For non-operative deliveries, this rate fell from 21.1% to 14.1%. For the latter, the use of episiotomy was significantly associated with breech vaginal delivery (aOR = 1.27 [1.23-1.30]), epidural analgesia (aOR = 1.45 [1.43-1.47]), non-reassuring fetal heart rate (aOR = 1.47 [1.47-1.49]), and giving birth for the first time (aOR = 3.85 [3.84-4.00]).CONCLUSIONS: The episiotomy rate decreased throughout France, for vaginal deliveries overall and for non-operative vaginal deliveries. This decrease is probably due to proactive changes in practices to restrict the number of episiotomies, which should be performed only if beneficial to the mother and the infant

Hospitalizations of patients in Burgundy and in nine other french regions, spatial analysis of interregional flows from french hospital claims data

Introduction / présentation du contexte : La création des ARS s’est accompagnée d’un pilotage régionalisé de la gouvernance sanitaire. Si les modalités administratives de découpage des territoires sanitaires sont connues, nous proposons une analyse géographique des logiques de fréquentation effectives des établissements hospitaliers qui semblent échapper à ce cadre réglementaire.Méthodes employées et sources de donnéesA partir du PMSI-MCO, nous avons étudié les flux inter-régionaux hospitaliers pour dix motifs de recours. L’analyse a été complétée par une analyse cartographique associant les mobilités à différents découpages géographiques et historiques, en Bourgogne et pour neuf autres régions test.Principaux résultats : La cartographie des mobilités hospitalières en Bourgogne et pour chaque région test montre que les flux de patients s’insèrent dans des ensembles territoriaux souvent cohérents au regard des limites que nous avons utilisées. Nos résultats indiquent que les frontières administratives régionales ne délimitent pas toujours des territoires homogènes. Pour chaque région test, des frontières invisibles apparaissent, héritées de la sédimentation historique et façonnées par des interfaces géographiques multiples.Discussion/Conclusion : La géographie aide à mieux comprendre l’organisation des flux hospitaliers, qui échappent aux logiques administratives régionales de la planification actuelle. A l’heure de la création de nouvelles grandes régions, l’outil géographique apparaît essentiel pour contribuer à l’instauration d’une gouvernance sanitaire plus pragmatique.Introduction / presentation of the context : The creation of ARS (Regional Healthcare Agencies) was accompanied by the regionalized organization of healthcare. Even though the administrative procedures for dividing the country into areas for healthcare coverage are well known, we propose a geographic analysis of the reasons why patients attend one hospital rather than another, which seem to escape the logic used by the authorities.Methods employed and sources of data : Using the PMSI-MCO, we studied the flow of patients living in one region to hospitals in other regions according to ten reasons for visiting hospitals. The analysis was completed by a cartographic analysis, which related the flow to different geographical and historical divisions in Burgundy and in nine other test regions.Main results : The cartography of hospital flow in Burgundy and for each test region showed that the choices made by patients were often coherent with regard to the limits that we used. Our results indicate that regional administrative boundaries do not always create homogeneous territories. For each test region, invisible boundaries appear. They stem from historical sedimentation and were shaped by numerous geographic dynamics.Discussion/ConclusionGeography makes it easier to understand hospital flow, which escapes the logic of current regional administrative planning. Now, with the creation of new super-regions, geography appears to be an essential tool to establish more pragmatic healthcare coverage

Hospitalisations de patients en Bourgogne et dans neuf autres régions métropolitaines, analyse territoriale des flux interrégionaux à partir de la base nationale du PMSI-MCO

Introduction / presentation of the context : The creation of ARS (Regional Healthcare Agencies) was accompanied by the regionalized organization of healthcare. Even though the administrative procedures for dividing the country into areas for healthcare coverage are well known, we propose a geographic analysis of the reasons why patients attend one hospital rather than another, which seem to escape the logic used by the authorities.Methods employed and sources of data : Using the PMSI-MCO, we studied the flow of patients living in one region to hospitals in other regions according to ten reasons for visiting hospitals. The analysis was completed by a cartographic analysis, which related the flow to different geographical and historical divisions in Burgundy and in nine other test regions.Main results : The cartography of hospital flow in Burgundy and for each test region showed that the choices made by patients were often coherent with regard to the limits that we used. Our results indicate that regional administrative boundaries do not always create homogeneous territories. For each test region, invisible boundaries appear. They stem from historical sedimentation and were shaped by numerous geographic dynamics.Discussion/ConclusionGeography makes it easier to understand hospital flow, which escapes the logic of current regional administrative planning. Now, with the creation of new super-regions, geography appears to be an essential tool to establish more pragmatic healthcare coverage.Introduction / présentation du contexte : La création des ARS s’est accompagnée d’un pilotage régionalisé de la gouvernance sanitaire. Si les modalités administratives de découpage des territoires sanitaires sont connues, nous proposons une analyse géographique des logiques de fréquentation effectives des établissements hospitaliers qui semblent échapper à ce cadre réglementaire.Méthodes employées et sources de donnéesA partir du PMSI-MCO, nous avons étudié les flux inter-régionaux hospitaliers pour dix motifs de recours. L’analyse a été complétée par une analyse cartographique associant les mobilités à différents découpages géographiques et historiques, en Bourgogne et pour neuf autres régions test.Principaux résultats : La cartographie des mobilités hospitalières en Bourgogne et pour chaque région test montre que les flux de patients s’insèrent dans des ensembles territoriaux souvent cohérents au regard des limites que nous avons utilisées. Nos résultats indiquent que les frontières administratives régionales ne délimitent pas toujours des territoires homogènes. Pour chaque région test, des frontières invisibles apparaissent, héritées de la sédimentation historique et façonnées par des interfaces géographiques multiples.Discussion/Conclusion : La géographie aide à mieux comprendre l’organisation des flux hospitaliers, qui échappent aux logiques administratives régionales de la planification actuelle. A l’heure de la création de nouvelles grandes régions, l’outil géographique apparaît essentiel pour contribuer à l’instauration d’une gouvernance sanitaire plus pragmatique

Out-of-maternity deliveries in France: A nationwide population-based study

International audienceINTRODUCTION:In France, many maternity hospitals have been closed as a result of hospital restructuring in an effort to reduce costs through economies of scale. These closures have naturally increased the distance between home and the closest maternity ward for women throughout the country. However, studies have shown a positive correlation between this increase in distance and the incidence of unplanned out-of-maternity deliveries (OMD). This study was conducted to estimate the frequency of OMD in France, to identify the main risk factors and to assess their impact on maternal mortality and neonatal morbidity and mortality.MATERIALS AND METHODS:We conducted a population-based observational retrospective study using data from 2012 to 2014 obtained from the French hospital discharge database. We included 2,256,797 deliveries and 1,999,453 singleton newborns in mainland France, among which, 6,733 (3.0‰) were OMD. The adverse outcomes were maternal mortality in hospital or during transport, stillbirth, neonatal mortality, neonatal hospitalizations, and newborn hypothermia and polycythemia. The socio-residential environment was also included in the regression analysis. Maternal and newborn adverse outcomes associated with OMD were analyzed with Generalized Estimating Equations regressions.RESULTS:The distance to the nearest maternity unit was the main factor for OMD. OMD were associated with maternal death (aRR 6.5 [1.6-26.3]) and all of the neonatal adverse outcomes: stillbirth (3.3 [2.8-3.8]), neonatal death (1.9 [1.2-3.1]), neonatal hospitalization (1.2 [1.1-1.3]), newborn hypothermia (5.9 [5.2-6.6]) and newborn polycythemia (4.8 [3.5-6.4]).DISCUSSION:In France, OMD increased over the study period. OMD were associated with all the adverse outcomes studied for mothers and newborns. Caregivers, including emergency teams, need to be better prepared for the management these at-risk cases. Furthermore, the increase in adverse outcomes, and the additional generated costs, should be considered carefully by the relevant authorities before any decisions are made to close or merge existing maternity units

The use of national administrative data to describe the spatial distribution of in-hospital mortality following stroke in France, 2008–2011

International audienceBackground: In the context of implementing the National Stroke Plan in France, a spatial approach was used to measure inequalities in this disease. Using the national PMSI-MCO databases, we analyzed the in-hospital prevalence of stroke and established a map of in-hospital mortality rates with regard to the socio-demographic structure of the country.Methods: The principal characteristics of patients identified according to ICD10 codes relative to stroke (in accordance with earlier validation work) were studied. A map of standardized mortality rates at the level of PMSI geographic codes was established. An exploratory analysis (principal component analysis followed by ascending hierarchical classification) using INSEE socio-economic data and mortality rates was also carried out to identify different area profiles.Results: Between 2008 and 2011, the number of stroke patients increased by 3.85 %, notably for ischemic stroke in the 36-55 years age group (60 % of men). Over the same period, in-hospital mortality fell, and the map of standardized rates illustrated the diagonal of high mortality extending from the north-east to the south-west of the country. The most severely affected areas were also those with the least favorable socio-professional indicators.Conclusions: The PMSI-MCO database is a major source of data on the health status of the population. It can be used for the area-by-area observation of the performance of certain healthcare indicators, such as in-hospital mortality, or to follow the implementation of the National Stroke Plan. Our study showed the interplay between social and demographic factors and stroke-related in-hospital mortality. The map derived from the results of the exploratory analysis illustrated a variety of areas where social difficulties, aging and high mortality seemed to meet. The study raises questions about access to neuro-vascular care in isolated areas and in those in demographic decline. Telemedicine appears to be the solution favored by decision makers. The aging of the population managed for stroke must not mask the growing incidence in younger people, which raises questions about the development of classical (smoking, hypertension) or new (drug abuse) risk factors

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

International audienceBackground: 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

Gestational age and 1-year hospital admission or mortality: a nation-wide population-based study

International audienceBackground: Describe the 1-year hospitalization and in-hospital mortality rates, in infants born after 31 weeks ofgestational age (GA).Methods: This nation-wide population-based study used the French medico-administrative database to assess thefollowing outcomes in singleton live-born infants (32–43 weeks) without congenital anomalies (year 2011): neonatalhospitalization (day of life 1 – 28), post-neonatal hospitalization (day of life 29 – 365), and 1-year in-hospital mortalityrates. Marginal models and negative binomial regressions were used.Results: The study included 696,698 live-born babies. The neonatal hospitalization rate was 9.8%. Up to 40 weeks,the lower the GA, the higher the hospitalization rate and the greater the likelihood of requiring the highest levelof neonatal care (both p < 0.001). The relative risk adjusted for sex and pregnancy-related diseases (aRR) reached21.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.2-23.3) at 32 weeks. The post-neonatal hospitalization rate was 12.1%. Theraw rates for post-neonatal hospitalization fell significantly from 32 – 40 and increased at 43 weeks and thispersisted after adjustment (aRR = 3.6 [95% CI: 3.3–3.9] at 32 and 1.5 [95% CI: 1.1–1.9] at 43 compared to 40 weeks).The main causes of post-neonatal hospitalization were bronchiolitis (17.2%), gastroenteritis (10.4%) ENT diseases(5.4%) and accidents (6.2%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.85‰, with a significant decrease (p < 0.001)according to GA at birth (aRR = 3.8 [95% CI: 2.4–5.8] at 32 and 6.6 [95% CI: 2.1–20.9] at 43, compared to 40 weeks.Conclusion: There’s a continuous change in outcome in hospitalized infants born above 31 weeks. Birth at 40 weeksgestation is associated with the lowest 1-year morbidity and mortality

Hospitalization for self-harm during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in France: A nationwide retrospective observational cohort study

ABSTRACT: Background: Little is known to date about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on self-harm. Methods: The number of hospitalizations for self-harm (ICD-10 codes X60-X84) in France from 1st January to 31st August 2020 (including a two-month confinement) was compared to the same periods in 2017–2019. Statistical methods comprised Poisson regression, Cox regression and Student's t-test, plus Spearman's correlation test relating to spatial analysis of hospitalizations. Outcomes: There were 53,583 self-harm hospitalizations in France during January to August 2020. Compared to the same period in 2019, this represents an overall 8·5% decrease (Relative Risk [95% Confidence Interval] = 0·91 [0·90–0·93]).This decrease started in the first week of confinement and persisted until the end of August. Similarly, decrease was found in both women (RR=0·90 [0·88–0·92]) and men (RR=0·94 [0·91–0·95]), and in all age groups, except 65 years and older. Regarding self-harm hospitalizations by means category, increases were found for firearm (RR=1·20 [1·03–1·40]) and for jumping from heights (RR=1·10 [1·01–1·21]). There was a trend for more hospitalizations in intensive care (RR=1·03 [0·99–1·07]). The number of deaths at discharge from hospital also increased (Hazard Ratio = 1·19 [1·09–1·31]). Self-harm hospitalizations were weakly correlated with the rates of hospitalization for COVID-19 across administrative departments (Spearman's rho =-0·21; p = 0·03), but not with overall hospitalizations. Interpretation: The COVID-19 pandemic had varied effects on self-harm hospitalizations during the early months in France. Active suicide prevention strategies should be maintained. Funding: French National Research Agency