The Evaluation of Cardiovascular Surgery-Associated Google Search Trends During COVID-19 Waves

The aim of the study was to clarify public interest about cardiovascular disease during the COVID-19 pandemic using Google Trends (GT).

The study was performed between November 20 and December 1, 2021. A total of 21 keywords related to cardiovascular surgery were selected. Public attention to all selected keywords was analyzed by GT with using the filters "web search," "all categories," and "Turkey." In Turkey, three COVID-19 waves (between March 12, 2020, and May 8, 2020, November 24, 2020, and January 20, 2021, and March 20, 2021, and May 16, 2021) were experienced since the beginning of the pandemic. To analyze public attention to cardiovascular surgery during the COVID-19 waves, 8-week periods during the COVID-19 waves were compared with the same times in the past 4 years (2016-2019).

Comparisons of March 12-May 8 2020 and the same period between 2016 and 2019 showed that total public interest about cardiovascular surgery was significantly decreased (-28.7%, p=0.001). The comparison of the second COVID-19 wave (November 24, 2020-January 20, 2021 versus November 24-January 20, 2016-2019) revealed that public interest about cardiovascular surgery was significantly lower in the COVID-19 era (-22.2%, p=0.001). Comparison of the third COVID-19 wave and the same periods in the previous 4 years demonstrated that public interest about cardiovascular disease was significantly lower in the COVID-19 era (-8.5%, p=0.001). In contrast, the term coronary angiography was searched significantly more during the third wave of COVID-19 in comparison to the same periods between 2016 and 2019 (17.9%, p=0.015).

Our study demonstrated that public interest in cardiovascular diseases was significantly decreased in all waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, interest in only the term coronary angiography was significantly increased in the third wave of pandemic.