Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33130946›Full record

ArticleClinical rheumatology2021

Population-level interest in anti-rheumatic drugs in the COVID-19 era: insights from Google Trends.

Sinan Kardeş, Ali Suat Kuzu, Haig Pakhchanian, Rahul Raiker, Mine Karagülle

Open access · bronzeAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical rheumatology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed
3.2field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 24 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Google searches for bruxism, teeth grinding, and teeth clenching during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Sinan KardeşDepartment of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. sinan.kardes@istanbul.edu.tr.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6311-8634
Ali Suat KuzuDepartment of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8677-2180
Haig PakhchanianGeorge Washington University School of Medicine & Health Science, Washington, DC, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8790-9991
Rahul RaikerWest Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0636-3235
Mine KaragülleDepartment of Medical Ecology and Hydroclimatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Capa-Fatih, 34093, Istanbul, Turkey.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8060-970X
Istanbul University · TRGeorge Washington University · USWest Virginia University · US

Funding

West Virginia IDEA-CTRU54GM104942 · NIGMS · WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY · PI Sally Lynn Hodder · 2012 to 2026
$81.0M
NIGMS NIH HHS U54 GM104942
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

INTRODUCTION/

objectiveThe 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.

methodTo 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).

resultsWe 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.

conclusionThere 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.

Indexed as

Antirheumatic AgentsCOVID-19HumansHydroxychloroquinePandemicsSARS-CoV-2Antirheumatic AgentsHydroxychloroquineAnakinraColchicineGoogle searchHydroxychloroquineInternetTocilizumab

Identifiers

PMID33130946
PMCPMC7603411
OpenAlexW3095286447

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.