Google Internet searches related to inflammatory arthritis: An observational study using Google Trends data

The Internet has transformed how patients access health information. We examined Google search engine data to understand which aspects of health are most often searched for in combination with inflammatory arthritis (IA).

Using Google Trends data (2011-2022) we determined the relative popularity of searches for 'patient symptoms' (pain, fatigue, stiffness, mood, work) and 'treat-to-target' (disease-modifying drugs, steroids, swelling, inflammation) health domains made with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) in the UK/USA. Google Trends normalises searches by popularity over time and region, generating 0-100 scale relative search volumes (RSV; 100 represents the time-point with most searches). Up to five search term combinations can be compared.

In all IA forms, pain was the most popular patient symptom domain. UK/USA searches for pain gave mean RSVs of 58/79, 34/51, and 39/63 with RA, PsA, and AxSpA; mean UK/USA RSVs for other patient symptom domains ranged 2-7/2-8. Methotrexate was the most popular treat-to-target search term with RA/PsA in the UK (mean 28/21) and USA (mean 63/33). For AxSpA, inflammation was most popular (mean UK/USA 9/34). Searches for pain were substantially more popular than searches for methotrexate in RA and PsA, and inflammation in AxSpA. Searches increased over time.

Pain is the most popular search term used with IA in Google searches in the UK/USA, supporting surveys/qualitative studies highlighting the importance of improving pain to patients with IA. Routine pain assessments should be embedded within treat-to-target strategies to ensure patient perspectives are considered.