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

Kardes S., Kuzu A. S., Pakhchanian H., Raiker R., Karagulle M.

CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY, vol.40, no.5, pp.2047-2055, 2021 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 40 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s10067-020-05490-w
  • Journal Name: CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Page Numbers: pp.2047-2055
  • Keywords: Anakinra, Colchicine, Google search, Hydroxychloroquine, Internet, Tocilizumab
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

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.