Siddiqui Zaed S, Phillips Vidith, Ansari Yusuf-Zain A, Singh Jaskaran, Angadala Sai K, Aluri Pruthvi Sai Chowdary, Puvvada Chaitanya S, Deoghare Shreya
College of Science & Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA.
Internal Medicine, Division of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 28;16(11):e74649. doi: 10.7759/cureus.74649. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) afflicts over 2.8 million individuals worldwide and is a leading cause of neurological impairment in young adults. This study investigates the public interest in MS and its treatment options in the United States over the past decade, utilizing Google Trends data. The aim is to analyze how search trends reflect public engagement with MS, particularly about managing relapses, slowing disease progression, alleviating symptoms, and enhancing quality of life. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing Google Trends to analyze search interest related to MS and its treatments from January 2014 to December 2023. The data was divided into two five-year periods: 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. Specific search terms for MS and various treatment modalities were analyzed, including traditional therapies (e.g., interferon-beta, glatiramer acetate) and newer treatments (e.g., ocrelizumab, siponimod). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test to compare relative search volumes (RSV) between the two periods. Results Significant fluctuations in RSV were observed over the study period. A notable increase in RSV was found for treatments such as rituximab, ocrelizumab, ublituximab, siponimod, and ponesimod in the 2019-2023 period compared to 2014-2018 (p < 0.05). Conversely, a significant decrease in RSV was observed for glatiramer acetate, alemtuzumab, natalizumab, fingolimod, and plasmapheresis during the same periods (p < 0.05). Treatments like beta interferon, ofatumumab, and teriflunomide showed no significant change in RSV between the two periods (p > 0.05). Conclusion Dividing the search period into two five-year intervals revealed shifting public interest toward newer MS therapies over the past decade. The increased interest in recent treatments aligns with advancements in MS management and may influence patient inquiries and treatment decisions. These findings highlight the utility of Google Trends as a tool for monitoring public awareness and underscore the importance of providing accessible, accurate information to guide healthcare strategies and policymaking.
引言
全球有超过280万人患有多发性硬化症（MS），它是年轻成年人神经功能障碍的主要原因。本研究利用谷歌趋势数据，调查了过去十年美国公众对MS及其治疗方案的兴趣。目的是分析搜索趋势如何反映公众对MS的关注，特别是关于管理复发、减缓疾病进展、缓解症状和提高生活质量方面。
方法
进行了一项横断面研究，利用谷歌趋势分析2014年1月至2023年12月期间与MS及其治疗相关的搜索兴趣。数据被分为两个五年期：2014 - 2018年和2019 - 2023年。分析了MS和各种治疗方式的特定搜索词，包括传统疗法（如干扰素-β、醋酸格拉替雷）和新型疗法（如奥瑞珠单抗、西普尼莫德）。使用曼-惠特尼U检验进行统计分析，以比较两个时期之间的相对搜索量（RSV）。
结果
在研究期间观察到RSV有显著波动。与2014 - 2018年相比，2019 - 2023年期间利妥昔单抗、奥瑞珠单抗、乌布利昔单抗、西普尼莫德和波尼松莫德等治疗的RSV显著增加（p < 0.05）。相反，在同一时期，醋酸格拉替雷、阿仑单抗、那他珠单抗、芬戈莫德和血浆置换的RSV显著下降（p < 0.05）。β干扰素、奥法木单抗和特立氟胺等治疗在两个时期之间的RSV没有显著变化（p > 0.05）。
结论
将搜索期分为两个五年间隔显示，在过去十年中公众对新型MS疗法的兴趣发生了变化。对近期治疗的兴趣增加与MS管理的进展相一致，可能会影响患者咨询和治疗决策。这些发现突出了谷歌趋势作为监测公众意识工具的效用，并强调了提供可获取、准确信息以指导医疗保健策略和政策制定的重要性。
