Almost 4 years ago, a severe weather with exceptional gravity floods has hit the French Riviera with significant damage estimated to half a billion euros and 20 deaths. The prevalence of cardiovascular events has been studied in the triangle Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, and the analysis showed an excess prevalence of Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI +78%, P<0.03). After the 25th summit on climate change and with the 2019 winter particularly marked by torrential rains on the same region, we noticed a strong anticipated reactivity of the authorities to warn and help the population. We decided to reassess the admission rate for NSTEMI and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) thus assess the impact of these preventive measures.

2015 torrential rains lasted a week and reached a spike of 180mm over 2h. In 2019, we assisted 3 weekends of floods with a spike of 113mm over 3h. We applied a comparison analysis based on 2 identical timelines. We looked for all the ACS and NSTEMI admitted before and during the weekend floods in the 3 centers Antibes, Cannes, Grasse. Floods periods (P1) were respectively: 11/22/19 to 11/24/19–11/29/19 to 12/01/19–12/19/19 to 12/21/19 control weekends (P2) were 11/01/19 to 11/03/19–11/08/19 to 11/10/19–11/15/19 to 12/17/19. ACS codes were: R07*(exceptR07.0) +I20* to +I24*+I428+I516+I518+I519, and NSTEMI: I20+I24. The comparison was based on the Fisher exact test (Figure 1).

During P1, on 1492 patients tested 10 experienced a NSTEMI (0.7%) and 63 an ACS (4.2%). During P2, on 1308 patients tested 11 experienced a NSTEMI (0.8%) and 64 an ACS (4.9%) (respectively P=0.8 & P=0.7, Table 1)

We found no excess of prevalence of NSTEMI nor ACS. We could assume a positive impact of the public preventive measures to diminish the burden of environmental stress especially on the cardiovascular patients. Climatic changing is happening now, we should be aware and prepare for all repercussions on the healthcare system.