Utilizing Google Trends data to enhance forecasts and monitor long COVID prevalence.
Communications medicine May 16, 2025 Amanda M Y Chu, Jenny T Y Tsang, Sophia S C Chan et al. 5 citations
Google Trends data can help forecast long COVID prevalence. By analyzing search popularity for 33 terms and 20 topics from CDC and scite lists, four symptoms (ageusia, anosmia, chest pain, headaches) showed increased searches before the term "long COVID" gained popularity, while nine others (aching muscle pain, anxiety, chest pain, clouding of consciousness, dizziness, fatigue, myalgia, shortness of breath, hypochondriasis) peaked afterward. A merged search volume derived from relative search data predicted long COVID prevalence, supporting its use in risk management. The method offers prior knowledge for future infodemiological and epidemiological investigations.