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Martínez-Aguilar L, Sanz-Lorente M, Martínez-Martínez F, Faus MJ, Sanz-Valero J. Public interest in drug-related problems reflected in information search trends: an infodemiological study. Daru 2024:10.1007/s40199-024-00519-w. [PMID: 38888730 DOI: 10.1007/s40199-024-00519-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The analysis of how people search and "navigate" the internet to obtain health-related information and how they communicate and share this information can provide valuable knowledge about the disease patterns behaviour and health habits of populations. OBJECTIVE To determine the population's interest in drug-related problems through information search trends. METHOD A descriptive ecological correlational study, based on obtaining Google Trends data. VARIABLES STUDIED relative search volume (RSV), evolution over time, milestones and seasonality. RESULTS The most searched topic was drug overdose, with mean RSV of 56.25 ± 0.65. The highest increase occurred in the contraindication topic (R2 = 0.87, p < 0.001). The main milestone was observed in the drug overdose topic in July 2018 (RSV = 100). A very close relationship was found between adverse drug reaction and contraindication (R = 0.89, p < 0.001). Slight seasonality was noted in the adverse drug reaction (augmented Dickey-Fuller test [ADF] = -1.96), contraindication (ADF = -2.66) and drug interaction (ADF = -1.67) topics, but did not show an epidemiological trend. CONCLUSIONS The greatest public interest was found in the drug overdose and contraindication topics, which showed a stronger upward trend, although the seasonality study did not show any very notable data or demonstrate epidemiological information search behaviour. The main milestone observed was due to media factors related to the consumption of narcotics. There was a clear difference in English-speaking countries in the use of the drug overdose topic. A correlation between the adverse drug reaction and contraindication topics was confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Martínez-Aguilar
- Pharmaceutical Research Group of the University of Granada, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María Sanz-Lorente
- Center of Public Health, Consellería of Universal Health and Public Health, Valencia, Manises, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-Martínez
- Pharmaceutical Research Group of the University of Granada, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - María J Faus
- Pharmaceutical Research Group of the University of Granada, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Javier Sanz-Valero
- Carlos III Health Institute, National School of Occupational Medicine, Madrid, Spain.
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Melián-Fleitas L, Franco-Pérez Á, Sanz-Valero J, Wanden-Berghe C. Population Interest in Information on Obesity, Nutrition, and Occupational Health and Its Relationship with the Prevalence of Obesity: An Infodemiological Study. Nutrients 2023; 15:3773. [PMID: 37686805 PMCID: PMC10489826 DOI: 10.3390/nu15173773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify and analyze population interest in obesity, nutrition, and occupational health and safety and its relationship with the worldwide prevalence of obesity through information search trends. METHOD In this ecological study, data were obtained through online access to Google Trends using the topics "obesity", "nutrition", and "occupational health and safety". Obesity data were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) website for crude adult prevalence and estimates by region. The variables studied were relative search volume (RSV), temporal evolution, milestone, trend, and seasonality. The temporal evolution of the search trends was examined by regression analysis (R2). To assess the relationship between quantitative variables, the Spearman correlation coefficient (Rho) was used. Seasonality was verified using the augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test. RESULTS The RSV trends were as follows: obesity (R2 = 0.04, p = 0.004); nutrition (R2 = 0.42, p < 0.001); and occupational health and safety (R2 = 0.45, p < 0.001). The analysis of seasonality showed the absence of a temporal pattern (p < 0.05 for all terms). The associations between world obesity prevalence (WOP) and the different RSVs were as follows: WOP versus RSV obesity, Rho = -0.79, p = 0.003; WOP versus RSV nutrition, Rho = 0.57, p = 0.044; and WOP versus RSV occupational health and safety, Rho = -0.93, p = 0.001. CONCLUSIONS Population interest in obesity continues to be a trend in countries with the highest prevalence, although there are clear signs popularity loss in favor of searches focused on possible solutions and treatments, with a notable increase in searches related to nutrition and diet. Despite the fact that most people spend a large part of their time in the workplace and that interventions including various strategies have been shown to be useful in combating overweight and obesity, there has been a decrease in the population's interest in information related to obesity in the workplace. This information can be used as a guide for public health approaches to obesity and its relationship to nutrition and a healthy diet, approaches that are of equal utility and applicability in occupational health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Melián-Fleitas
- Nutrition Department, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain;
- Geriatric Service, Insular Hospital, Health Services Management of the Health Area of Lanzarote, 35500 Arrecife, Spain
| | - Álvaro Franco-Pérez
- Playa Blanca Health Center, Health Services Management of the Health Area of Lanzarote, 35580 Playa Blanca, Spain
| | - Javier Sanz-Valero
- National School of Occupational Medicine, Carlos III Health Institute, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Carmina Wanden-Berghe
- Health and Biomedical Research Institute of Alicante (ISABIAL), University General Hospital, 03010 Alicante, Spain;
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Abstract
Gout is the most prevalent type of inflammatory arthritis worldwide and environmental factors contribute to hyperuricemia and risk for gout flare. Causes of hyperuricemia include increased purine consumption from meat, alcohol, and high fructose corn syrup as well as medications such as cyclosporine, low-dose aspirin, or diuretics. Triggers for gout flares include increased purine consumption and medication use such as urate lowering therapy and diuretics. Environmental exposures including lead exposure, particulate matter exposure, temperature fluctuations, and physiologic stress have been found to trigger flares. In the right clinical scenario, these factors should be considered when treating gout patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay N Helget
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986270 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA.
| | - Ted R Mikuls
- Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, 4101 Woolworth Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986270 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6270, USA
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Seasonal Variation for Plantar Fasciitis: Evidence from Google Trends Search Query Data. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10091676. [PMID: 36141288 PMCID: PMC9498888 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10091676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to determine the seasonal trends in internet searches for plantar fasciitis and related symptoms in various countries using search engine query data on Google. We used Google Trends to obtain internet search query data from January 2009 to December 2019. We collected monthly search volumes for the query terms “plantar fasciitis” and “heel pain” in the USA, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Statistical analysis of the seasonal effects on plantar fasciitis was performed using a cosinor model. The cosinor analyses confirmed statistically significant seasonal patterns in the relative search volumes for the terms “plantar fasciitis” and “heel pain” in the USA, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Australia, with peaks during the summer and troughs during the winter. For New Zealand, the seasonal trend was statistically significant only for the term “plantar fasciitis”, while a similar trend for the term “heel pain” was present without achieving statistical significance for seasonality. This seasonality is thought to be related to more frequent occurrence of plantar fasciitis due to increased physical activity of people during the warmer months. In this study, the search query data using the terms “plantar fasciitis” and “heel pain” on Google Trends show significant seasonal variation across several countries, with a peak in the summer and a trough in the winter.
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Marcec R, Stjepanovic J, Likic R. Seasonality of Hashimoto Thyroiditis: Infodemiology Study of Google Trends Data. JMIR BIOINFORMATICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022; 3:e38976. [PMID: 38935939 PMCID: PMC11135219 DOI: 10.2196/38976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune thyroid disease and the leading cause of hypothyroidism in areas with sufficient iodine intake. The quality-of-life impact and financial burden of hypothyroidism and HT highlight the need for additional research investigating the disease etiology with the aim of revealing potential modifiable risk factors. OBJECTIVE Implementation of measures against such risk factors, once identified, has the potential to lessen the financial burden while also improving the quality of life of many individuals. Therefore, we aimed to examine the potential seasonality of HT in Europe using the Google Trends data to explore whether there is a seasonal characteristic of Google searches regarding HT, examine the potential impact of the countries' geographic location on the potential seasonality, and identify potential modifiable risk factors for HT, thereby inspiring future research on the topic. METHODS Monthly Google Trends data on the search topic "Hashimoto thyroiditis" were retrieved in a 17-year time frame from January 2004 to December 2020 for 36 European countries. A cosinor model analysis was conducted to evaluate potential seasonality. Simple linear regression was used to estimate the potential effect of latitude and longitude on seasonal amplitude and phase of the model outputs. RESULTS Of 36 included European countries, significant seasonality was observed in 30 (83%) countries. Most phase peaks occurred in spring (14/30, 46.7%) and winter (8/30, 26.7%). A statistically significant effect was observed regarding the effect of geographical latitude on cosinor model amplitude (y = -3.23 + 0.13 x; R2=0.29; P=.002). Seasonal increases in HT search volume may therefore be a consequence of an increased incidence or higher disease activity. It is particularly interesting that in most countries, a seasonal peak occurred in spring and winter months; when viewed in the context of the statistically significant impact of geographical latitude on seasonality amplitude, this may indicate the potential role of vitamin D levels in the seasonality of HT. CONCLUSIONS Significant seasonality of HT Google Trends search volume was observed in our study, with seasonal peaks in most countries occurring in spring and winter and with a significant impact of latitude on seasonality amplitude. Further studies on the topic of seasonality in HT and factors impacting it are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Marcec
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine and Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josip Stjepanovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine and Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Robert Likic
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Zagreb School of Medicine and Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Wu ZD, Yang XK, He YS, Ni J, Wang J, Yin KJ, Huang JX, Chen Y, Feng YT, Wang P, Pan HF. Environmental factors and risk of gout. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113377. [PMID: 35500858 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Gout is a chronic disease with inflammatory arthritis caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals deposition, an elevated serum urate level (hyperuricaemia) is the critical factor leading to MSU crystals deposition and promoting the progression of gout. The onset and development of gout is generally the result of multiple factors, such as diet, heredity and environmental factors. Although genetics and diet are thought to play as major factors, a growing body of research evidence has highlighted that environmental factors also play a significant role in the onset and exacerbation of gout. Recent studies have shown that air pollutants such as particulate matter, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) may increase the risk of hospitalizations for gout, and that the changes in temperature and humidity may affect uric acid (UA) levels. There is also seasonal trend in gout. It has been demonstrated that environmental factors may induce or accelerate the production and release of pro-inflammatory mediators, causing an unbalance oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, and then participating in the overall process or a certain link of gout. Moreover, several environmental factors have shown the ability to induce the production urate and regulate the innate immune pathways, involving in the pathogenesis of gout. Nevertheless, the role of environmental factors in the etiology of gout remains unclear. In this review, we summarized the recent literatures and aimed to discuss the relationship between environmental factors (such as microclimate, season, ambient/indoor air pollution and extreme weather) and gout. We further discussed the inflammatory mechanisms of environmental factors and gout and the comprehensive effects of environmental factors on gout. We also made a prospect of the management and treatment of gout, with special consideration to environmental factors associated with gout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Dong Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Ke Yang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Sheng He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Jing Ni
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Kang-Jia Yin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Ji-Xiang Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Ting Feng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Teaching Center of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Hai-Feng Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, China; Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, China.
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Simsek H, Kardes S, Kilic M, Kardes E. Trends and seasonality in public interest in dental trauma: Insights from Google Trends. Int J Paediatr Dent 2022; 32:464-472. [PMID: 34569105 DOI: 10.1111/ipd.12926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AIM To assess trends and seasonal variation of dental trauma by using the Google Trends data. DESIGN Google Trends was used to obtain relative search volume (RSV) of search terms such as dental trauma, broken tooth, chipped tooth, knocked-out tooth, avulsed tooth, and gum trauma. The search strategy was set to the time period (January 2004 to December 2019), region (worldwide, the United States, the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and Turkey), Web search, and all categories. Seasonal variation was evaluated using the cosinor analysis. RESULTS The worldwide RSV values of broken tooth, chipped tooth, knocked-out tooth, and avulsed tooth have shown a general increase in recent years with an upward forecast line. The RSV values of dental trauma have shown a general increase in recent years with a plateau forecast line, and gum trauma has shown a stable trend with a plateau forecast line. Seasonal variation of chipped tooth, broken tooth, dental trauma, knocked-out tooth, avulsed tooth, and gum trauma was not found statistically significant in any of the countries (p > .025). The top related queries of chipped tooth and broken tooth were about pain, fix/repair, and cost. The top related topics for avulsed tooth and knocked-out tooth are about infant, child, toddler, and primary tooth. CONCLUSIONS People's interest on dental trauma, broken tooth, chipped tooth, knocked-out tooth, and avulsed tooth has shown a general increase in recent years without showing a seasonal pattern. Healthcare professionals should pay more attention to people's concerns and informational needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huseyin Simsek
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
| | - Sinan Kardes
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Munevver Kilic
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
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Salbaş E, Ketenci S. Infodemiology of Bell's palsy: Tracing the seasonality of facial paralysis. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2022; 35:615-623. [PMID: 34602459 DOI: 10.3233/bmr-210021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although there are a few studies on the seasonality of facial paralysis, no studies have utilized internet data for this purpose. The use of internet data to investigate diseases and user-contributed health-related content is increasingly prevalent, and has earned the name "infodemiology". OBJECTIVE This study aims to use Google Trends data to investigate whether there is a seasonal variation in facial paralysis. METHODS In this observational study, the search volume for the terms "facial paralysis" and "Bell's palsy" for a total of 19 countries was queried from Google Trends, selecting the time interval between January 2004 and October 2020. RESULTS In the Cosinor analysis of data from a total of 19 countries, from both northern and southern hemisphere, a statistically significant seasonality was found in the search volume of facial paralysis. It was observed that facial paralysis searches peaked in spring in the northern hemisphere and in winter in the southern hemisphere. CONCLUSION Internet search query data showed that facial paralysis has a seasonal variation, with peaks in spring for the northern hemisphere and winter for the southern hemisphere. Further studies are needed to understand the deviation between hemispheres and the cause of the peak in winter-spring season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ender Salbaş
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Omer Halisdemir University Medical Faculty, Bor Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, Nigde, Turkey
| | - Sertaç Ketenci
- Rheumatology Department, Manisa City Hospital, Manisa, Turkey
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Güneri FD, Forestier FBE, Forestier RJ, Karaarslan F, Odabaşi E. YouTube as a source of information for water treatments. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:781-789. [PMID: 35094110 PMCID: PMC8800846 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02236-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to investigate the quality and reliability of YouTube videos as a source of information in water treatments. We searched videos on YouTube ( www.youtube.com ) using the following keywords: "health resort medicine," "spa treatment," "spa therapy," "hydrotherapy," "thermal medicine," "balneology," and "balneotherapy" on June 17th, 2021. The global quality scale (GQS) was used to evaluate the quality of the videos. The assessment of reliability was evaluated using the modified DISCERN tool. Some other video parameters and sources of the videos were also recorded. One hundred twenty-one (121) videos were analyzed. The most common video source was advertisement (46.3%). GQS and modified DISCERN median scores were generally low. They were superior for "hydrotherapy" and "balneotherapy" and were also higher in videos uploaded by health-related persons or organizations (physicians, health-related professionals, and health-related websites). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between investigated parameters (like view ratio, number of likes, video power index, video length) and GQS. Only video length was correlated with modified DISCERN for investigated parameters. The median video power index scores were statistically higher for "spa therapy" and "spa treatment." The YouTube content linked with water treatments has poor quality and reliability most of time. The hydrotherapy and balneotherapy keywords have the best quality and reliability.We think that designers of water treatment videos should involve health professionals more often so that the content of their video will better explain the details of medical conditions or interventions.The scientific experts should ensure a consensus in terminology to straighten the awareness of water treatments for patients and physicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fulya Demircioğlu Güneri
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey.
| | | | | | - Fatih Karaarslan
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ersin Odabaşi
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
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Fritsch CG, Duong V, Chen L, Hunter DJ, McLachlan AJ, Ferreira PH, Ferreira ML. Use of Online Information in Musculoskeletal Conditions: An Analysis of Google Trends Data. J Clin Rheumatol 2022; 28:162-169. [PMID: 35153284 DOI: 10.1097/rhu.0000000000001820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the yearly online public interest for gout, low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis, the most popular topics searched for these conditions, and the association between the change in their interest over time and the sociodemographic index of the search location. METHODS We conducted online searches in Google Trends for the aforementioned conditions between 2004 and 2020. The search volumes for each condition (relative to all searches conducted in the period) and the top and rising related queries and topics were downloaded and summarized. RESULTS There was a rise in the online interest for musculoskeletal conditions between 2008 and 2020, with low back pain (annual percent change, 7.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.1-7.7) and neck pain (annual percent change, 7.2; 95% CI, 6.9-7.5) presenting the highest increases. There was a negative, statistically significant, but small association between change in online interest and the country's sociodemographic index for low back pain (-0.007; 95% CI, -0.011 to-0.003), neck pain (-0.005; 95% CI, 0.009 to -0.001), and rheumatoid arthritis (-0.009; 95% CI, -0.017 to -0.001) between 2013 and 2020. The interest for the cause and symptoms of the selected conditions increased over time, except for gout. The proportion of queries and topics related to treatment of all conditions decreased over time. CONCLUSIONS The worldwide interest in musculoskeletal conditions increased between 2008 and 2020. The public seems more interested in understanding what musculoskeletal conditions are and less interested in which treatment options are available. The results can guide the development of educational campaigns for musculoskeletal conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina G Fritsch
- From the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences and The Kolling Institute
| | - Vicky Duong
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The Kolling Institute, The Institute of Bone and Joint Research
| | - Lingxiao Chen
- From the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences and The Kolling Institute
| | - David J Hunter
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The Kolling Institute, The Institute of Bone and Joint Research
| | | | - Paulo H Ferreira
- Charles Perkins Centre Musculoskeletal Research Hub, The Charles Perkins Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Manuela L Ferreira
- From the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences and The Kolling Institute
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Palomo-Llinares R, Sánchez-Tormo J, Wanden-Berghe C, Sanz-Valero J. Trends and Seasonality of Information Searches Carried Out through Google on Nutrition and Healthy Diet in Relation to Occupational Health: Infodemiological Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13124300. [PMID: 34959852 PMCID: PMC8708834 DOI: 10.3390/nu13124300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze and relate the population interest through information search trends on Nutrition and Healthy Diet (HD) with the Occupational Health (OH). Ecological and correlational study of the Relative Search Volume (RSV) obtained from Google Trends query, segmented in two searched periods concerning antiquity; date of query: 20 April 2021. The RSV trends for the analyzed three Topics were: Nutrition (R2 = 0.02), HD (R2 = 0.07) and OH (R2 = -0.72). There was a good positive correlation between Nutrition and OH (R = 0.56, p < 0.001) and a moderate one between HD and OH (R = 0.32, p < 0.001). According to seasons, differences were verified between RSV means in the Topics HD (p < 0.01) and OH (p < 0.001). Temporal dependence was demonstrated on Nutrition searches (Augmented Dickey-Fuller = -2.35, p > 0.05). There was only a significant relationship between the RSV Topic HD (p < 0.05) for the Developing and Least Developed countries. The data on the analyzed RSV demonstrated diminishing interest in the search information on HD and OH as well as a clearly positive trend change in recent years for Nutrition. A good positive correlation was observed between the RSV of nutrition and OH whereas the correlation between HD and OH was moderate. There were no milestones found that may report a punctual event leading to the improvement of information searches. Temporal dependence was corroborated in the RSV on Nutrition, but not in the other two Topics. Strangely, only an association was found on HD searches between the Developing and Least Developed Countries. The study of information search trends may provide useful information on the population's interest in the disease data, as well as would gradually allow the analysis of differences in popularity, or interest even between different countries. Thus, this information might be used as a guide for public health approaches regarding nutrition and a healthy diet at work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Palomo-Llinares
- Department of Public Health and History of Science, School of Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 Alicante, Spain;
| | - Julia Sánchez-Tormo
- International Virtual Center for Nutrition Research (CIVIN), 03540 Alicante, Spain;
| | - Carmina Wanden-Berghe
- Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region (FISABIO), Health and Biomedical Research Institute of Alicante (ISABIAL), 03010 Alicante, Spain;
| | - Javier Sanz-Valero
- Department of Public Health and History of Science, School of Medicine, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 Alicante, Spain;
- Carlos III Health Institute, National School of Occupational Medicine, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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He YS, Wang GH, Wu Q, Wu ZD, Chen Y, Tao JH, Fang XY, Xu Z, Pan HF. The Relationship Between Ambient Air Pollution and Hospitalizations for Gout in a Humid Subtropical Region of China. J Inflamm Res 2021; 14:5827-5835. [PMID: 34764674 PMCID: PMC8575452 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s329706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Gout is a chronic disease caused by the deposition of sodium urate (MSU) crystals. Available data on the association between environmental hazards and gout are scarce. The present study was present to investigate the relationship between short-term exposure to air pollution and hospitalizations for acute gout from 2016 to 2020 in Anqing City, China. Methods Daily records of hospital admissions for acute gout in Anqing from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020 were retrieved from the tertiary first-class hospitals in Anqing. Air pollutants and meteorological data were obtained from the China Environmental Monitoring Station and China Meteorological Data Service Center respectively. We used a time-series analysis to explore the association between air pollution (NO2, O3, and CO) and hospitalizations for acute gout, and conducted stratified analyses by gender, age and season. Results We observed an association between NO2 and hospitalizations for gout (lag 0, relative risk (RR):1.022, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.004-1.041). For every 1 mg/m3 increase in CO concentration, hospitalizations for gout increased by 3.9% (lag 11 days, RR=1.039, 95% CI: 1.004-1.076). Intriguingly, there was a negative association between O3 and hospitalizations for gout (lag0, RR=0.986, 95% CI: 0.976-0.996). Stratified analyses showed that exposure to high levels of NO2 was considered to be more vulnerable to gout in cold season. Conclusion Our study showed that short-term exposure to NO2 and CO has a significant effect on hospitalizations for acute gout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Sheng He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Gui-Hong Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Anqing Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Anqing, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng-Dong Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Hui Tao
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Yu Fang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Xu
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hai-Feng Pan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
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Liu L, Wang P, Jiang SQ, Zhong ZR, Zhan TZ, Yang ZY, Zhang YN, Li C, Xu J, Xia CM. Seasonal variations and public search interests in Toxoplasma: a 16-year retrospective analysis of big data on Google Trends. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2021; 115:878-885. [PMID: 33241272 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/traa147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aims to understand whether there is a seasonal change in the internet search interest for Toxoplasma by using the data derived from Google Trends (GT). METHODS The present study searched for the relative search volume (RSV) for the search term 'Toxoplasma' in GT within six major English-speaking countries (Australia, New Zealand [Southern Hemisphere] and Canada, Ireland, the UK and the USA [Northern Hemisphere] from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2019, utilizing the category of 'health'. Data regarding the RSV of Toxoplasma was obtained and further statistical analysis was performed in R software using the 'season' package. RESULTS There were significantly seasonal patterns for the RSV of the search term 'Toxoplasma' in five countries (all p<0.05), except for the UK. A peak in December-March and a trough in July-September (Canada, Ireland, the UK and the USA) were observed, while a peak in June/August and a trough in December/February (Australia, New Zealand) were also found. Moreover, the presence of seasonal patterns regarding RSV for 'Toxoplasma' between the Southern and Northern Hemispheres was also found (both p<0.05), with a reversed meteorological month. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study revealed the seasonal variation for Toxoplasma in using internet search data from GT, providing additional evidence on seasonal patterns in Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Su-Qin Jiang
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zi-Rong Zhong
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting-Zheng Zhan
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zi-Yin Yang
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ya-Nan Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chao-Ming Xia
- Department of Parasitology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
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Wang P, Xu Q, Cao RR, Deng FY, Lei SF. Global Public Interests and Dynamic Trends in Osteoporosis From 2004 to 2019: Infodemiology Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e25422. [PMID: 36260400 PMCID: PMC8406103 DOI: 10.2196/25422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With the prolonging of human life expectancy and subsequent population aging, osteoporosis (OP) has become an important public health issue. Objective This study aimed to understand the global public search interests and dynamic trends in “osteoporosis” using the data derived from Google Trends. Methods An online search was performed using the term “osteoporosis” in Google Trends from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2019, under the category “Health.” Cosinor analysis was used to test the seasonality of relative search volume (RSV) for “osteoporosis.” An analysis was conducted to investigate the public search topic rising in RSV for “osteoporosis.” Results There was a descending trend of global RSV for “osteoporosis” from January 2004 to December 2014, and a slowly increasing trend from January 2015 to December 2019. Cosinor analysis showed significant seasonal variations in global RSV for “osteoporosis” (P=.01), with a peak in March and a trough in September. In addition, similar decreasing trends of RSV for “osteoporosis” were found in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Canada from January 2004 to December 2019. Cosinor test revealed significant seasonal variations in RSV for “osteoporosis” in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, UK, and USA (all P<.001). Furthermore, public search rising topics related to “osteoporosis” included denosumab, fracture risk assessment tool, bone density, osteopenia, osteoarthritis, and risk factor. Conclusions Our study provided evidence about the public search interest and dynamic trends in OP using web-based data, which would be helpful for public health and policy making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics, School of Public Health, Soochow University Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics, School of Public Health, Soochow University Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Rong-Rong Cao
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics, School of Public Health, Soochow University Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fei-Yan Deng
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics, School of Public Health, Soochow University Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shu-Feng Lei
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Genomics, School of Public Health, Soochow University Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Google searches for bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Orofac Orthop 2021; 83:1-6. [PMID: 34185102 PMCID: PMC8239479 DOI: 10.1007/s00056-021-00315-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has an impact on bruxism represents an important gap of knowledge. This study evaluated the trends in Google searches, as an indication of public interest and demand, for bruxism and its symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Google Trends was queried for bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching both worldwide and in the United States. Two periods in 2020 (March 15–May 9 and May 10–October 17) were compared to similar periods of 2016–2019 to investigate both initial and short-term interest. Results The relative search volume of bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching was not significantly different between 2020 and 2016–2019 worldwide or in the United States in the March 15–May 9 period. Only the search for teeth grinding showed an increase worldwide. In the May 10–October 17 period, the relative search volume of bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching all was significantly higher in 2020 compared to 2016–2019 both worldwide and in the United States. Conclusion The study showed that the relative search volume for bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching, as an indication of public interest and demand, was increased both worldwide and in the United States during the May–October 2020 period compared to similar periods of the previous 4 years. Dentists should address this increased public interest and demand for information seeking for bruxism. Follow-up studies monitoring long-term interest as a real-time surveillance and evaluating whether increased internet searches are linked to an actual increase or worsening of bruxism and its symptoms in the clinic are required.
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Seasonal Variation and Global Public Interest in the Internet Searches for Osteoporosis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:6663559. [PMID: 34189139 PMCID: PMC8195644 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6663559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Background To ascertain the seasonal pattern and global public interest in osteoporosis by evaluating search term popularity changes of the disease over a decade. Methods We applied Google Trends to retrieve search popularity scores for the term “osteoporosis” between January 01, 2004, and December 31, 2019. Cosinor analyses were conducted to examine the seasonality of osteoporosis, and analysis on osteoporosis-related topics including hot topics and rising-related topics was also performed. Results The cosinor analyses demonstrated a statistically significant seasonal variation in relative search volume of the “osteoporosis” in the world (p = 0.0083), USA (p < 0.001), UK (p < 0.001), Canada (p < 0.001), Ireland (p < 0.001), Australia (p < 0.001), and New Zealand (p < 0.001), with a peak in the late winter months and trough in the summer months. The peaks in late winter and valley in summer presented an approximately 6-month difference between hemispheres. The top 11 rising topics were denosumab, FRAX, hypocalcaemia, zoledronic acid, ibandronic acid, osteomyelitis, osteopenia, osteoarthritis, bone, calcium, and bone density. Conclusions Google search query volumes related to osteoporosis follow strong seasonal patterns with late winter peaks and summer troughs. Further studies aimed at elucidating the possible mechanisms behind seasonality in osteoporosis are needed. Moreover, Internet data including the top rising topics may alert physicians to strengthen the propaganda of osteoporosis timely, so as to further promote the development of public health interventions.
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Kardeş S. Public interest in spa therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of Google Trends data among Turkey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:945-950. [PMID: 33442780 PMCID: PMC7805426 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02077-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In Turkey, spas are widely used and preferred by patients who are seeking relief from their disability and pain. The spa therapy program is partly reimbursed by the national health insurance system. The objective of the present study was to leverage Google Trends to elucidate the public interest in spas in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Google Trends was queried to analyze search trends within Turkey for the Turkish term representing a spa (i.e., kaplıca) from January 01, 2016, to September 30, 2020. The relative search volume of "kaplıca" was statistically significantly decreased in the March 15-May 30, 2020 (- 73.04%; p < 0.001); May 31-July 25, 2020 (- 41.38%; p < 0.001); and July 26-September 19, 2020 (- 29.98%; p < 0.001) periods compared to similar periods of preceding 4 years (2016-2019). After June 1, 2020, the relative search volume was shown to have a moderate recovery, without reaching the level of 2016-2019. Public interest in spas showed an initial sharp decline between mid-March and May, with a moderate increase during the June-August period. This finding might be indicative of public preference in undertaking spa therapy during the COVID-19 period. In Turkey, spas might be used to increase places providing rehabilitation for both non-COVID-19 patients and survivors of COVID-19 with long-term symptoms during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Kardeş
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
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18
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Kardeş S, Kuzu AS, Pakhchanian H, Raiker R, Karagülle M. Population-level interest in anti-rheumatic drugs in the COVID-19 era: insights from Google Trends. Clin Rheumatol 2021; 40:2047-2055. [PMID: 33130946 PMCID: PMC7603411 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-020-05490-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE The general public may utilize online information through search engines for implications and risks of some anti-rheumatic drugs. These drugs have been used in the management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated inflammatory sequelae or cytokine storm of infection. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the population-level interest in anti-rheumatic drugs during the COVID-19 era, by analyzing changes in Google search frequency data. METHOD To obtain the relative search volume (RSV) of anti-rheumatic drugs, we queried Google Trends for 78 search terms representing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, antigout agents, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), immunosuppressants, biologics, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors within the USA. Three 8-week periods in 2020 (March 15-May 9), (May 10-July 4), and (July 5-August 29) representing the initial- and short-term periods were compared to overlapping periods of the preceding 3 years (2017-2019). RESULTS We found statistically significant increases in RSV for colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab (and its brand name-Actemra), and anakinra, and statistically significant decreases among brand names of immunosuppressive agents (i.e., mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, cyclosporine) during both the initial- and short-term COVID-19 periods as compared to overlapping periods of the preceding 3 years. CONCLUSION There were significant increases in RSV of colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab, and anakinra during both initial- and short-term COVID-19 periods when compared to overlapping periods of the preceding 3 years reflecting a heightened level of information-seeking on these drugs during the pandemic. Rheumatologists should address this increase in informational demand. Further research assessing medium- and long-term interest in anti-rheumatic drugs is required to increase our knowledge on this new pandemic. Key Points •This study was aimed to investigate the population-level interest in anti-rheumatic drugs in the COVID-19 era, by analyzing changes in Google search frequency data. •Significant increases were seen in relative searches for colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab, and anakinra during both initial and short-term COVID-19 periods when compared to similar periods of 2017-2019 reflecting a heightened level of information-seeking on these drugs during the pandemic. •Rheumatologists should address this increase in informational demand for colchicine, hydroxychloroquine, tocilizumab, and anakinra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Kardeş
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ali Suat Kuzu
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Haig Pakhchanian
- George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science, Washington, DC USA
| | - Rahul Raiker
- West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV USA
| | - Mine Karagülle
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
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Hwang SM, Hwang SH. Association of nationwide insurance data and Google Trends for seasonality of gout in South Korea. THE EGYPTIAN RHEUMATOLOGIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejr.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Kardeş S, Erdem A, Gürdal H. Public interest in musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic : Infodemiology study. Z Rheumatol 2021; 81:247-252. [PMID: 33779835 PMCID: PMC8006118 DOI: 10.1007/s00393-021-00989-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Objective The goal was to assess public interest in a wide range of musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods We searched Google Trends for 118 search queries within the United States. We compared two timeframes of 2020 (March 15–July 4 and July 5–October 31) to similar timeframes over the four prior years (2016–2019). Results In the early pandemic, March 15–July 4, a statistically significant decrease in relative search volume of the majority of queries (60%) was detected, with a significant increase in only 2 queries (i.e. myalgia and toe swelling). In the phase July through October, a statistically significant decrease was detected in only 22% of search queries; there was no difference for 60% of search queries between 2020 and 2016–2019 suggesting a return to their prior levels for most of search queries. Interestingly, the search volume of 18% of search queries (i.e. fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain, myalgia, spondylosis, radiculopathy, myelopathy, neck pain, neck strain, lower back strain, sciatica, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, elbow pain, lateral epicondylitis, wrist pain, carpal tunnel, hand pain, finger pain, trigger finger, and Morton’s neuroma) was significantly increased compared with the four prior years. Conclusion Public interest focused on COVID-19 and sought online information for COVID-19 symptoms in the early pandemic. In the period July through October, there was an upward trend in musculoskeletal symptoms and some colloquial terms/well-known musculoskeletal conditions coupled with a downward trend in general musculoskeletal disorder terms and certain specific diagnoses. This information may help rheumatologists understand public interest in musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders and address the needs of patients to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on outcomes. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s00393-021-00989-2) includes Table 1. Article and supplementary material are available at www.springermedizin.de. Please enter the title of the article in the search field, the supplementary material can be found under “Ergänzende Inhalte”. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Kardeş
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Topkapı, Turgut Özal Millet Cd, 34093, Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey.
| | - Anıl Erdem
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Topkapı, Turgut Özal Millet Cd, 34093, Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Hatice Gürdal
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Topkapı, Turgut Özal Millet Cd, 34093, Fatih/İstanbul, Turkey
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Seasonality of Back Pain in Italy: An Infodemiology Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031325. [PMID: 33535709 PMCID: PMC7908346 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND E-health tools have been used to assess the temporal variations of different health problems. The aim of our infodemiology study was to investigate the seasonal pattern of search volumes for back pain in Italy. METHODS In Italian, back pain is indicated by the medical word "lombalgia". Using Google Trends, we selected the three search terms related to "lombalgia" with higher relative search volumes (RSV), (namely, "mal di schiena", "dolore alla schiena" and "dolore lombare"), representing the semantic preferences of users when performing web queries for back pain in Italy. Wikipedia page view statistics were used to identify the number of visits to the page "lombalgia". Strength and direction of secular trends were assessed using the Mann-Kendall test. Cosinor analysis was used to evaluate the potential seasonality of back pain-related RSV. RESULTS We found a significant upward secular trend from 2005 to 2020 for search terms "mal di schiena" (τ = 0.734, p < 0.0001), "dolore alla schiena" (τ = 0.713, p < 0.0001) and "dolore lombare" (τ = 0.628, p < 0.0001). Cosinor analysis on Google Trends RSV showed a significant seasonality for the terms "mal di schiena" (pcos < 0.001), "dolore alla schiena" (pcos < 0.0001), "dolore lombare" (pcos < 0.0001) and "lombalgia" (pcos = 0.017). Cosinor analysis performed on views for the page "lombalgia" in Wikipedia confirmed a significant seasonality (pcos < 0.0001). Both analyses demonstrated a peak of interest in winter months and decrease in spring/summer. CONCLUSIONS Our infodemiology approach revealed significant seasonal fluctuations in search queries for back pain in Italy, with peaking volumes during the coldest months of the year.
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Kardeş S, Kuzu AS, Raiker R, Pakhchanian H, Karagülle M. Public interest in rheumatic diseases and rheumatologist in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from Google Trends. Rheumatol Int 2021; 41:329-334. [PMID: 33070255 PMCID: PMC7568841 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-020-04728-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the public interest in rheumatic diseases during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Google Trends was queried to analyze search trends in the United States for numerous rheumatic diseases and also the interest in a rheumatologist. Three 8-week periods in 2020 ((March 15-May 9), (May 10-July 4), and (July 5-August 29)) were compared to similar periods of the prior 4 years (2016-2019). Compared to a similar time period between 2016 and 2019, a significant decrease was found in the relative search volume for more than half of the search terms during the initial March 15-May 9, 2020 period. However, this trend appeared to reverse during the July 5-August 29, 2020 period where the relative volume for nearly half of the search terms were not statistically significant compared to similar periods of the prior 4 years. In addition, this period showed a significant increase in relative volume for the terms: Axial spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, scleroderma, Kawasaki disease, Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, and rheumatologist. There was a significant decrease in relative search volume for many rheumatic diseases between March 15 and May 9, 2020 when compared to similar periods during the prior 4 years. However, the trends reversed after the initial period ended. There was an increase in relative search for the term "rheumatologist" between July and August 2020 suggesting the need for rheumatologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policymakers and healthcare providers should address the informational demands on rheumatic diseases and needs for rheumatologists by the general public during pandemics like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Kardeş
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ali Suat Kuzu
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Rahul Raiker
- West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV USA
| | - Haig Pakhchanian
- George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science, Washington, DC USA
| | - Mine Karagülle
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
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Hu D, Lou X, Xu Z, Meng N, Xie Q, Zhang M, Zou Y, Liu J, Sun G, Wang F. More effective strategies are required to strengthen public awareness of COVID-19: Evidence from Google Trends. J Glob Health 2020; 10:011003. [PMID: 32373339 PMCID: PMC7182392 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.10.011003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed stress on the health and well-being of both Chinese people and the public worldwide. Global public interest in this new issue largely reflects people's attention to COVID-19 and their willingness to take precautionary actions. This study aimed to examine global public awareness of COVID-19 using Google Trends. METHODS Using Google Trends, we retrieved public query data for terms of "2019-nCoV + SARS-CoV-2 + novel coronavirus + new coronavirus + COVID-19 + Corona Virus Disease 2019" between the 31st December 2019 and the 24th February 2020 in six major English-speaking countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Dynamic series analysis demonstrates the overall change trend of relative search volume (RSV) for the topic on COVID-19. We compared the top-ranking related queries and sub-regions distribution of RSV about COVID-19 across different countries. The correlation between daily search volumes on the topic related to COVID-19 and the daily number of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed. RESULTS The overall search trend of RSV regarding COVID-19 increased during the early period of observing time and reached the first apex on 31st January 2020. A shorter response time and a longer duration of public attention to COVID-19 was observed in public from the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada, than that in Ireland and New Zealand. A slightly positive correlation between daily RSV about COVID-19 and the daily number of confirmed cases was observed (P < 0.05). People across countries presented a various interest to the RSV on COVID-19, and public awareness of COVID-19 was different in various sub-regions within countries. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that public response time to COVID-19 was different across countries, and the overall duration of public attention was short. The current study reminds us that governments should strengthen the publicity of COVID-19 nationally, strengthen the public's vigilance and sensitivity to COVID-19, inform public the importance of protecting themselves with enough precautionary measures, and finally control the spread of COVID-19 globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingtao Hu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoqi Lou
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhiwei Xu
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland. Queensland, Australia
| | - Nana Meng
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qiaomei Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yanfeng Zou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiatao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Guoping Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Hu D, Lou X, Xu Z, Meng N, Xie Q, Zhang M, Zou Y, Liu J, Sun G, Wang F. More effective strategies are required to strengthen public awareness of COVID-19: Evidence from Google Trends. J Glob Health 2020; 10:011003. [PMID: 32373339 DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3550008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed stress on the health and well-being of both Chinese people and the public worldwide. Global public interest in this new issue largely reflects people's attention to COVID-19 and their willingness to take precautionary actions. This study aimed to examine global public awareness of COVID-19 using Google Trends. METHODS Using Google Trends, we retrieved public query data for terms of "2019-nCoV + SARS-CoV-2 + novel coronavirus + new coronavirus + COVID-19 + Corona Virus Disease 2019" between the 31st December 2019 and the 24th February 2020 in six major English-speaking countries, including the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Dynamic series analysis demonstrates the overall change trend of relative search volume (RSV) for the topic on COVID-19. We compared the top-ranking related queries and sub-regions distribution of RSV about COVID-19 across different countries. The correlation between daily search volumes on the topic related to COVID-19 and the daily number of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed. RESULTS The overall search trend of RSV regarding COVID-19 increased during the early period of observing time and reached the first apex on 31st January 2020. A shorter response time and a longer duration of public attention to COVID-19 was observed in public from the USA, the UK, Australia, and Canada, than that in Ireland and New Zealand. A slightly positive correlation between daily RSV about COVID-19 and the daily number of confirmed cases was observed (P < 0.05). People across countries presented a various interest to the RSV on COVID-19, and public awareness of COVID-19 was different in various sub-regions within countries. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that public response time to COVID-19 was different across countries, and the overall duration of public attention was short. The current study reminds us that governments should strengthen the publicity of COVID-19 nationally, strengthen the public's vigilance and sensitivity to COVID-19, inform public the importance of protecting themselves with enough precautionary measures, and finally control the spread of COVID-19 globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingtao Hu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoqi Lou
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhiwei Xu
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland. Queensland, Australia
| | - Nana Meng
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qiaomei Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yanfeng Zou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiatao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Guoping Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Hu D, Lou X, Xu Z, Meng N, Xie Q, Zhang M, Zou Y, Liu J, Sun G, Wang F. More effective strategies are required to strengthen public awareness of COVID-19: Evidence from Google Trends. J Glob Health 2020. [DOI: 10.7189/jogh.10.0101003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Teng Y, Huang SW, Li Z, Xie QM, Zhang M, Lou QY, Wang F, Zou YF. Seasonal variation and trends in the Internet searches for losing weight: An infodemiological study. Obes Res Clin Pract 2020; 14:225-233. [PMID: 32349915 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study sought to examine the variation trends and seasonality of losing weight by using the data from Google Trends tool. METHODS According to the search term of [lose weight+weight loss], Google Trends data were obtained. Search activity was conducted within the USA, the UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand from January 01, 2004, to December 31, 2018, utilizing the health category. RESULTS Dynamic series analysis and the plot of seasonal decomposition of time series show that relative search volume of [lose weight+weight loss] increased from 2004 to 2018 at both national and hemispherical levels. Statistically significant seasonal variations in relative search volume for the term [lose weight+weight loss] were observed using cosinor analyses in the USA (p<0.001), the UK (p<0.001), Canada (p<0.001), Ireland (p<0.001), Australia (p<0.001), and New Zealand (p<0.001), peaking in the spring months and reaching the lowest level in the autumn months. The highest level in spring and the lowest level in autumn were reversed by 6 months in both hemisphere countries, consistent with a seasonal pattern. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that Internet search queries for losing weight increased within the timeframe of 2004 to 2018, likely reflecting the rising global public interest. In addition, the present research provided preliminary evidence that there is a seasonality of losing weight with a peak in the spring months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Teng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Shun-Wei Huang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Qiao-Mei Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Man Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Qiu-Yue Lou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Yan-Feng Zou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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Dey M, Zhao SS, Goodson N. Global public interest in infectious and non-infectious arthritis: an evaluation using Google Trends. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020; 59:245-246. [PMID: 31302694 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mrinalini Dey
- Musculoskeletal Biology I, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, UK.,Department of Academic Rheumatology, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sizheng S Zhao
- Musculoskeletal Biology I, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, UK.,Department of Academic Rheumatology, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Nicola Goodson
- Musculoskeletal Biology I, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, UK.,Department of Academic Rheumatology, Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
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Mei YJ, Mao YM, Cao F, Wang T, Li ZJ. Using internet search data to explore the global public concerns in ankylosing spondylitis. Postgrad Med J 2020; 97:93-96. [PMID: 32094142 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-137407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored the changes of global public interest in internet search of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) based on Google Trends (GT) data, in order to reflect the characteristics of AS itself. METHODS GT was used to obtain the search popularity scores of the term 'AS' on a global scale, between January 2004 and December 2018, under the 'health' classification. Based on the global search data of AS provided by GT, the cosinor analysis was used to test whether there was seasonality in AS. RESULTS In general, AS related search volume demonstrated a decreasing trend from January 2004 to December 2014 and then remain stable from January 2015 to December 2018. No obvious seasonal variations were detected in AS related search volume (amplitude=1.54; phase: month=3.9; low point: month=9.9; p>0.025), which peaked in April and bottomed out in October. The top 17 rising topics were adalimumab, spondylolisthesis, Morbus, Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev, autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosis, HLA- B27 positive, Crohn's disease, rheumatology, spondylosis, arthritis, uveitis, rheumatism, sacroiliac, psoriatic arthritis and spondylitis. CONCLUSIONS Globally, there is no significant seasonal variation in GT for AS. The top fast-growing topics related to AS may be beneficial for doctors to provide targeted health education of the disease to patients and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jun Mei
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Yan-Mei Mao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Fan Cao
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
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Wu GC, Cao F, Shen HH, Hu LQ, Hu Y, Sam NB. Global public interest in systemic lupus erythematosus: an investigation based on internet search data. Lupus 2019; 28:1435-1440. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203319878502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Objective This study aims at investigating the global public interest in seeking information about systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using Google Trends (GT). Methods An electronic search was performed using GT with the search term lupus as well as the option of disease from January 2004 to December 2018. Cosinor analysis was applied to detect the seasonality of SLE-related relative search volume (RSV). In addition, analysis on SLE-related topics including “hot topics” and “top rising topics” was also conducted. Results Overall, SLE-related RSV showed a decreasing trend from January 2004 to December 2013 and then demonstrated a slowly increasing trend from January 2014 to December 2018. Cosinor test showed no significant seasonal variation in SLE-related RSV ( p > .025). RSV peaked in May and reached the trough in November. The top seven rising topics were Selena Gomez, Sjögren syndrome, autoimmunity, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatology, antinuclear antibody and autoimmune disease. Conclusion The results from GT analysis showed slowly increasing internet searches for SLE in recent years. This trend was followed by a peak of RSV in May and reached its lowest level in November. However, globally, the results did not reveal a significant seasonal variation in GT for SLE. Additionally, the top fast-growing topics regarding SLE may be valuable for doctors and nurses to provide timely education of the disease to patients, as well as promote the development of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- G C Wu
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - F Cao
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - H H Shen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - L Q Hu
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Y Hu
- School of Nursing, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - N B Sam
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Wu Q, Xu Z, Dan YL, Zhao CN, Mao YM, Liu LN, Pan HF. Seasonality and global public interest in psoriasis: an infodemiology study. Postgrad Med J 2019; 96:139-143. [PMID: 31511319 DOI: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2019-136766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although patients with psoriasis frequently report seasonal changes in their symptoms, the seasonality of psoriasis has rarely been explored. This study aims to investigate the seasonal pattern of and global public interest in psoriasis using Google search data. METHODS Internet search data were collected from Google Trends. Data on the relative search volume (RSV) from January 2004 to December 2018 were retrieved using the term psoriasis. Cosinor analyses were conducted to examine the seasonality of psoriasis using data from two southern hemisphere countries (Australia and New Zealand) and four northern hemisphere countries (USA, Canada, UK and Ireland). RESULTS Overall, searches for psoriasis steadily decreased between 2004 and 2010, and then rose from 2011 to 2018. On cosinor analyses, RSV of 'psoriasis' displayed a significant seasonal variation worldwide (p<0.025). Further analyses confirmed the seasonality of psoriasis-related RSV in Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, UK and Ireland (p<0.025 for all), with peaks in the late winter/early spring months and troughs in the late summer/early autumn months. The top 11 rising topics were calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate, ustekinumab, apremilast, shampoo, eczema, guttate psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, dermatitis, psoriatic arthritis, atopic dermatitis and arthritis. CONCLUSION There was a significant seasonal pattern for psoriasis, with peaks in the late winter/early spring and troughs in the late summer/early autumn. Further studies are warranted to confirm the seasonal pattern of psoriasis using clinical data and to explore the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wu
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhiwei Xu
- School of Public Health and Social Work and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yi-Lin Dan
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chan-Na Zhao
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan-Mei Mao
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li-Na Liu
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hai-Feng Pan
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Kardeş S. Comment on "Seasonal variations of Google searches for joint swelling: implications for patient-reported outcomes". Clin Rheumatol 2019; 38:2283-2284. [PMID: 31183667 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-019-04623-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sinan Kardeş
- Department of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Wu GC, Tao SS, Zhao CN, Mao YM, Wu Q, Dan YL, Pan HF. Correction: Leveraging Google Trends to investigate the global public interest in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 2019; 39:1445. [DOI: 10.1007/s00296-019-04342-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Seasonal variation in the internet searches for psoriasis. Arch Dermatol Res 2019; 311:461-467. [DOI: 10.1007/s00403-019-01921-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Seasonal variations of Google searches for joint swelling: implications for patient-reported outcomes. Clin Rheumatol 2019; 38:1791-1792. [PMID: 30972578 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-019-04534-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Seasonality of bruxism: evidence from Google Trends. Sleep Breath 2019; 23:695-701. [DOI: 10.1007/s11325-019-01787-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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