Key Points

In Week 32 (August 7–13, 2023), emergency department visits and hospitalizations following a visit remained stable across all age groups, with the exception of those aged 75 and older, where there was a slight increase (+6%, or +3,006 visits). Hospitalizations following a visit remained stable across all age groups.

The increase in visits due to suspected COVID-19 continues across all age groups and is becoming more pronounced. However, numbers remain moderate, or even very low, among children aged 2–14.

• 197 visits in S32 vs. 120 in S31 (+64%) among those under 2 years old (+56% in S31)

• 761 visits in S32 vs. 510 in S31 (+49%) among those aged 15–74 (+25% in S31)

• 566 visits in S32 vs. 341 in S31 (+66%) among those aged 75 and older (+34% in S31)

Across all age groups, 1,547 visits were recorded in Q32 vs. 979 in Q31, representing a +58% increase (+33% in Q31) and accounting for 0.5% of emergency department activity (vs. 0.3% in Q31). The proportion of hospitalizations following a visit remains stable at 37%.

At the regional level, the numbers observed remain low, with increases ranging from +6% in Martinique to +130% in Guadeloupe. The majority (60%) of visits are concentrated in four regions: Nouvelle-Aquitaine (246 visits in Q3 2022, +41% compared to Q3 2021), Île-de-France (281 in S32, +82%), PACA (222 in S32, +54%), and Occitanie (194 in S32, +70%).

Regarding other indicators, most are stable or showing a slight increase (around +10% in low numbers, mainly among adults). However, there was an increase in visits for heatstroke among adults, also with low numbers (+109% but only +47 visits), and for skin injuries among children under 2 years of age (+16%, or +40 visits).